Belgian officials begin economic mission trip to U.S. with stop in Atlanta – WABE

The biggest focus of Belgian-owned firms within the U.S. is in Georgia, the place greater than 60 corporations have a presence.

And an financial mission that arrived in Atlanta Sunday that includes almost 300 Belgian enterprise, college and group leaders may develop these numbers.

Belgium’s consul normal in Atlanta, Michel Gerebtzoff, says many enterprise homeowners in Belgium are solely acquainted with locations within the U.S. like New York and California, however not essentially the American South.

“We simply attempt to make higher identified some great benefits of this area, along with our companions with the chamber, with the governor’s workplace and with the mayor’s workplace, that are very, very supportive,” stated Gerebtzoff.

Among the many Belgian firms already in Georgia is Solvay, whose supplies enterprise is headquartered in Alpharetta. On Sunday, a ribbon chopping befell for the corporate’s New Purposes Improvement Lab. The occasion included Princess Astrid of Belgium and the nation’s ambassador to the U.S., Jean-Arthur Régibeau.

Gerebtzoff says Solvay is an instance of an modern firm that could be a good match with what’s taking place in Georgia.

“They’re lively on new supplies, lively on electrical autos, they’re lively in aerospace. In order that they do deliver options to a number of the challenges we face,” stated Gerebtzoff. “And Georgia could be very properly positioned, clearly, to draw extra of these investments.”

Carmelo Lo Faro, who heads Solvay’s supplies enterprise, says Georgia’s expertise pool and variety of expertise are among the many high causes Alpharetta was chosen.

“We speak lots as of late about expertise scarcity or expertise warfare. Georgia is a good place for the kind of expertise we’d like,” stated Lo Faro. “One is the proximity to Georgia Tech, an excellent engineering faculty that brings us the engineers, scientists and chemists that we have to run a world, world-class operation”

He says the state’s enterprise local weather, entry to Hartsfield-Jackson Worldwide Airport and being within the Japanese time zone are additionally massive pluses.

“We are able to have calls within the morning with our colleagues in Europe. And within the night, as quickly as Korea and Japan get up, now we have calls with prospects and colleagues in that area of the world,” stated Lo Faro.

As a part of the financial mission, the Belgian delegation will attend a variety, fairness and inclusion occasion on the Nationwide Heart for Civil and Human Rights. They’ll additionally meet with Gov. Brian Kemp and the state’s financial growth workforce. Later within the week, the mission journey continues to New York and Boston.

Whereas the chemical and pharmaceutical industries make up a big portion of the commerce between the state of Georgia and Belgium, Gerebtzoff says inventive arts are one other massive space for potential development.

“Cultural industries, motion pictures, e-gaming, music is likely one of the sectors that I’m anticipating will witness the very best development sooner or later,” he stated.