Representatives of the New York office of the Belgian American Chamber of Commerce visited Atlanta Feb. 17 to breathe new life into its Atlanta chapter.

The Belgian chamber here was founded when Sabena Belgian World Airlines became Atlanta’s first international carrier in 1978. At the time, Anne Cox Chambers, daughter of James M. Cox, founder of Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises Inc., was the United States’ ambassador to Belgium.

The chamber actively promoted business between Belgium and Georgia resulting in the presence of more than 40 Belgian companies currently represented in the state.

It held an annual “Taste of Belgium” gala dinner, which once was even attended by Belgium’s crown prince, Philip, who admonished the attendees never to forget “that the customer is always king.”

In recent years as political divisions in Belgium have become more rancorous to the extent of even threatening the stability of the government, the local chamber’s activities have waned.

Pierre Everaert, former chairman of the board of InBev, the world’s largest brewer, and Olivier Smekens, a vice president at the Belgian KBC bank’s U.S. corporate banking operations, encouraged attendees of a luncheon at the Atlanta law firm Smith , Gambrell & Russell LLP to reactivate the local chamber.

Mr. Everaert, who has had a long and exceptionally successful business and academic career, recommended that representatives of larger Belgian companies assist entrepreneurial firms in the Southeast. He also said that more experienced businessmen and women should mentor those starting out.

He is currently a senior adviser to the New York-based and Asian-focused investment firm, Clearwater Capital Partners. Prior to being chairman of the board of InBev, he served as vice chairman of Philips Electronics Nv and CEO of Philips Electronics North America, Royal Ahold and General Biscuit USA.

Mr. Everaert has held professorships and lecturing positions at Vlerick School of Business, Harvard Business School, Wharton School and Oxford University.

Mr. Smekens encouraged the revival of the chamber in Atlanta as the New York chamber is developing a “strategic business center” to help promote business between Belgium and the U.S.

To learn more about the chamber initiatives, call Anton F. Mertens at (404) 815-3733 or send an e-mail to afmertens@sgrlaw.com

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