Passage of a pension reform bill this month in Brazil’s lower house of Congress would come as no surprise to attendees of a Global Atlanta Consular Conversation in late June. During the luncheon interview hosted at Miller & Martin PLLC’s Midtown office, Consul General Carlos Henrique Moojen de Abreu e Silva was immovable in his […]
Consul General: Despite Trade Challenges, U.S.-Canada Ties ‘Too Big to Fail’
President Trump’s approach to trade may have strained the U.S.-Canada relationship, but these “best friends and allies” are in no danger of breaking up, according to Canada’s top diplomat in the Southeast. Nadia Theodore, a trade expert-turned-consul general, said both countries may be pursuing independent trade priorities, but the primacy of their neighborly relationship has never faded, […]
Belgium and the South: Linked Through a History of Global Trade
The big story out of the Masters at Augusta National this year was the major victory that cemented Tiger Woods’ comeback story. But William De Baets had his mind more on the golf course grounds than the tournament itself. Since his arrival in 2017, the Belgian consul general has undertaken an investigation of historical ties […]
Turkish Consul General: Political Challenges Shouldn’t Derail U.S.-Turkey Business Ties
Looking at the U.S.-Turkey relationship, one doesn’t have to zoom in too far to see the cracks. The NATO allies are currently at odds over Turkey’s purchase of the Russian-made S-400 anti-aircraft missile defense systems, over and above threats from Washington that the move would endanger future defense collaborations. But the list of irritants is […]
Consul General: ‘Global Ireland’ Gains Steam as Brexit Looms
Ireland has committed itself to global outreach with a newfound zeal now that the country is on the cusp of finding itself the last remaining native-English-speaking country in Europe. With Brexit on the horizon, Ireland is doubling down on the pluralistic values and multilateralism that it has championed as a member of the European Union, said Shane Stephens, the […]
Beyond Brexit: Amid Present Uncertainty, New British Diplomat Builds Bridges to the Future
When taking on a public interview with Global Atlanta shortly into his tenure, new British Consul General Andrew Staunton couldn’t have known the Brexit tumult that would unfold over the ensuing months. But the Glasgow, Scotland-born U.K. diplomat make one obvious pronouncement that has proven especially true over the last few weeks: “We’re breaking new […]
Honduras Consul General: Cutting Off Aid Not the Answer to Illicit Migration
Just as a migrant caravan now numbering in the thousands set out from Central America to the U.S. two weeks ago, Honduras’ top diplomat in Atlanta was discussing the factors driving emigration from her country — and ways the U.S. can help address it. Maria Fernanda Rivera Fiallos spoke with Global Atlanta during an Oct. 16 Consular Conversation, […]
Going Beyond: Already a Strong Investor, Switzerland Holds Even More Potential for Georgia
In a span of a few weeks earlier this year, Swiss companies made investments in Georgia that dwarf the state’s entire stock of realized investment from China, a nation of more than a billion people and the world’s second largest economy. Switzerland, in fact, has fewer people than Georgia, but it’s that small market and its fidelity to […]
‘It Starts With a Coffee’: How Conversation Can Help Investors Avoid Pitfalls in Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s easygoing lifestyle and laid-back, “pura vida” vibe has been a godsend for tourism, but it has sometimes had a negative side effect: turning off other investors accustomed to a more expedient way of doing business. It doesn’t have to be that way, says Consul General Flora Leah Venegas Corrales, who represents the Central […]
Beyond Beaches: Bahamas Ties With Atlanta Run Much Deeper Than Tourism
Astra Armbrister-Rolle isn’t bashful about the beaches where she grew up. After all, the Bahamas is known for the white sand and azure waters that postcards have marketed so well to Americans seeking a getaway. “When we say that it’s better in the Bahamas, just about everyone in this room will know what that means,” […]
