THE BRAZILIAN CONSULATE, WHICH LEFT ATLANTA SIX YEARS AGO, WILL REOPEN ITS OFFICES AT PEACHTREE CENTER ON MONDAY, JUNE 3, WITH CARLOS ALFREDO L. TEXEIRA AS THE NEW CONSUL GENERAL.
THE ATLANTA OFFICE WILL COVER SOUTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA, ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, TENNESSEE AND GEORGIA.
“IT WAS NOT A GOOD DECISION TO CLOSE THE ATLANTA OFFICE,” SAID MR. TEXEIRA IN AN INTERVIEW WITH GLOBALFAX ON MAY 29. “ATLANTA IS MORE BUSINESS-WISE THAN THE REST OF THE SOUTHEAST. THERE IS MORE OFFICE SPACE IN ATLANTA THAN IN JACKSONVILLE, TAMPA, MIAMI AND ORLANDO PUT TOGETHER,” HE ADDED.
THE PRESENCE IN ATLANTA OF SEVERAL LARGE COMPANIES WITH OPERATIONS IN BRAZIL, INCLUDING COCA-COLA, CNN AND BELLSOUTH, WAS ALSO A FACTOR IN THE DECISION TO REOPEN THE CONSULATE, SAID MR. TEXEIRA.
HE CITED A GROWING BRAZILIAN POPULATION IN ATLANTA AND THE CITY’S ROLE AS A RAILROAD AND HIGHWAY CROSSROADS AS ADDITIONAL FACTORS IN THE DECISION.
BEFORE JOINING THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE IN 1976, MR. TEXEIRA WAS AN ATTORNEY, AND WORKED AS LEGAL COUNSELOR FOR TELEBRAS, THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS HOLDING STATE COMPANY IN BRAZIL.
MR. TEXEIRA WAS HEAD OF THE POLITICAL SECTOR OF THE BRAZILIAN EMBASSY IN BUENOS AIRES AND PARTICIPATED IN NEGOTIATIONS THAT LED TO THE FORMATION OF MERCOSUL.
HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE PRESIDENT’S PERSONAL STAFF AND OF THE PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARIAT OF STRATEGIC AFFAIRS.
HIS LAST POSTING BEFORE COMING TO ATLANTA WAS AS THE TRADE BUREAU DIRECTOR AT THE SOUTHEAST REGIONAL CONSULATE IN MIAMI.
THE MIAMI OFFICE WILL NOW COVER ONLY FLORIDA, AND THE CONSULATE IN HOUSTON WILL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ARKANSAS AND LOUISIANA, WITH THE OTHER STATES IN THE REGION GOING TO THE ATLANTA OFFICE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BRAZILIAN CONSULATE OR INVESTING IN BRAZIL, CALL (404) 521-0061, OR THE BRAZILIAN-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CAN BE REACHED AT (404) 589-8252.
BY BRIANA PEHLMAN