The Consulate General of Belgium in Atlanta is looking to extend its network around the Southeast U.S. through the appointment of three new honorary consuls.
Belgium, which already has 30 honorary consuls around the U.S., is recruiting for western Florida, Alabama and Tennessee, the latter of which has seen recent appointments of German and Irish honorary consuls.
According to a posting by Consul General Michel Gerebtzoff on LinkedIn, the country is looking for non-traditional representatives.
“If you aren’t sure you fit the stereotype of honorary consuls, it is probably a good sign! If you have a good network here and strong ties to Belgium, we are interested,” Mr. Gerebtzoff wrote.
As the positions are unpaid but require a physical office space for hosting constituents and some funding for organizing events and functions, honorary consul postings are often filled by service providers like attorneys and accountants who have business links with the country in question.
Atlanta is home to more than 40 honorary consuls, diplomats selected by a foreign ministry of the appointing country to represent its interests in a certain geographic area. In contrast to career diplomats, who work directly for their countries and are generally rotated to various international locations every couple of years, honorary consuls are usually permanent community members who understand the local landscape and enjoy extensive social networks where they serve.
Separately, the Belgian consulate is looking for economic advisors in the same three states to advance the interests of Belgian companies and provide insight that will inform the government’s efforts to boost bilateral trade and investment.
The consulate announced the open positions after a visit by Anita de Give, the daughter of Henry Leon de Give, Belgium’s last honorary consul to serve in Atlanta before the consulate general was opened here in 1970. Mr. de Give was the last of three de Gives men to serve in the posting successively.
Ms. de Give met with Eline Goovaerts, deputy head of mission at the Atlanta consulate, to share historical documents from the times her father, grandfather and great-grandfather served in the role.
Mr. Gerebtzoff, the consul general, is set to depart the Atlanta post this summer after about four years here. He arrived amid the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.
Learn more about the positions and how to apply.
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