The board shall have the following duties and powers:

(1) To investigate, study, and undertake ways and means of promoting and encouraging the prosperous development and protection of the legitimate interest and welfare of Georgia business, industry, and commerce within and outside the state;

(2) To make and prepare plans and establish long-term policies for the promotion, establishment, development, and expansion of commerce and industry in the state;

(3) To promote and encourage the location, establishment, and development of new businesses and industries within the state and the development and expansion of businesses and industries now or hereafter located in the state;

(4) To promote and encourage the establishment, maintenance, development, and expansion of markets for the products of Georgia business, industry, and agriculture;

(5) To promote and encourage the use of the commercial, industrial, and agricultural facilities and resources of the state by persons, businesses, and industries located within or outside the state; and particularly to promote and encourage the expansion and development of industries processing or using agricultural, timber, timber products, and natural resources of the state;

(6) To establish, develop, and maintain an effective business information service, both for the direct assistance of business and industry of the state and for the encouragement of industries outside the state to use commercial, industrial, and agricultural facilities within the state;

(7) To promote and encourage the establishment, development, and maintenance of commerce and trade between this state and other states and foreign countries; to plan for the removal of, and to devise and put into operation ways and means of removing, trade barriers of any kind which in any way hamper, burden, restrict, or interfere with the free flow of commerce and trade between this state and other states; and

(8) To plan and conduct a program of information and publicity designed to attract tourists, visitors, and other interested persons from outside the state to this state and also to encourage and coordinate the efforts of other public and private organizations or groups of citizens to publicize the facilities and attractions of the state for the same purposes.