WEST POINT – Governor Sonny Perdue and KMA/KMMG President and CEO Byung Mo Ahn held a ceremony today to commemorate the arrival of one of the final and largest pieces of the press equipment that will be used to shape automobile parts when the $1 billion facility begins production. “The arrival of this equipment is a major milestone in the building of our Georgia plant,” said President Ahn, “but it is also more than that. The global journey of this equipment represents Kia’s success as a global automobile brand. It represents Kia’s full and complete commitment to building the most advanced automotive manufacturing facility in the world right here in West Point. And its safe arrival here today is testimony to the successful partnerships we have developed with Governor Perdue and his entire Georgia team.” President Ahn expressed particular appreciation for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, which has led the Georgia team on the project from the beginning and has been critical in all aspects of the site’s development; the Georgia Ports Authority, whose capabilities made the arrival of such a massive cargo possible; the Georgia Department of Transportation, which has built a new exit along I-85 which will open soon leading directly to the facility, developed additional roadways through the complex, and which escorted the numerous shipments of cargo from Savannah; and Georgia Quick Start, Kia’s workforce development and training partner which has led the assessment, selection and training process for Kia’s team members, and which also designed and built a flexible, state-of-the-art training center.
