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Two years after moving its offices to Gwinnett, French-American Chamber of Commerce is enhancing its partnership with the county’s chamber in a bid to drive investment and trade interest.
The French chamber Thursday became the 10th binational organization to line up the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, which prides itself on the county’s diverse business community and a 600-strong contingent of international firms.
The organizations signed a memorandum of understanding committing them to collaborate to promote global business opportunities.
Working out of the “Maison du France” offices in partnership with the French consulate in Buckhead for many years, the French-American chamber was drawn during the pandemic to set up a space at Curiosity Lab in the Gwinnett city of Peachtree Corners in 2021.
Part of the calculation was the growing presence of French companies, both at Curiosity Lab innovation center and in the county itself. The chamber was one of 12 organizations highlighted during last year’s multi-chamber mixer, which drew more than 400 people to the Gas South District.
“Aligning our efforts will help us reinforce our presence in the local area and make the activities of the French-American Chamber better known to local companies, whether they are of French origin with a presence in Gwinnett County or U.S. companies interested in the tremendous business opportunities that France has to offer,” said Katherine Lafourcade, the French-American chamber’s executive director since February 2022. “We are happy to make this partnership official and are looking forward to many years of collaboration.”
French Consul General Anne-Laure Desjonquères was on hand to witness the MOU signing at the Gwinnett Chamber.
France last year renewed its designation of Atlanta as a La French Tech hub, a technology seal of approval pushed along by the consulate, the French-American Chamber and a variety of other local partners. Founded in 1985, the FACC predates the consulate’s presence in the Atlanta (1991).
According to the Gwinnett Chamber, French direct investment has created 24,000 jobs in Georgia.
Gwinnett has led two trade missions to France in partnership with other economic development organizations in the metro area and state.
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