The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the new EFACEC transformer plant, in the Georgia State – Efacec Power Transformers Inc- took place, yesterday, September 25th.,2008. Giving one more step towards the concretisation of a Portuguese Investment outside of Portugal, with major national impact, EFACEC held its official groundbreaking for its Effingham County/ State of Georgia new power transformers facilities, yesterday, September 25th., 2008 . State officials of the State of Georgia and Effingham County, EFACEC Shareholders, Engineer Pedro de Mello and Dr. Antonio Gonçalves, EFACEC Chairman, Engineer Francisco Sanchez, EFACEC Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Luis Filipe Pereira along with other managers of the company and a great number of other entities and important American clients of EFACEC attended this groundbreaking ceremony. This investment, which is projected to be around $ 180 million, started construction in Effingham, 370 km far away from Atlanta, and is expected to start operation by fall 2009. Up to 2015, EFACEC Power Transformer Inc. will create about 600 jobs. During his speech, EFACEC CEO, Dr. Luis Filipe Pereira, EFACEC said that “Less than one year after the signing ceremony occurred in Atlanta in November 2007, between the State of Georgia and EFACEC, I am again in USA to celebrate and share, with all the presents, my profound happiness with the event we celebrate today. This moment is, at the same time, the result of the effort of a great team, built on the confidence between Portuguese and American very qualified people and the beginning of a greater challenge. And it is, with no doubt, particularly due to the involvement and commitment of Georgia State and Effingham County authorities”. Starting operation in the USA is one of the greatest challenges and an objective of strategic importance for EFACEC, namely for its internationalisation, the construction of these facilities representing one of the greatest commitments of the company, which will involve important financial and human efforts. Efacec has already recruited and selected the first Portuguese and American staff for the future Efacec Power Transformers team, and will start the training program of American people, which will take place in Portugal, more precisely at Porto, on next October 6th. and will last until August 2009.