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In just one efficient interview, two new faces in Belgium’s economic and diplomatic relationship with the Southeast U.S. are making a splash.
Earlier this month, Belgian Chamber of Commerce of the South’s new executive director, Solene Jaspard, sat down with Consul General Katherine Raeymaekers, who succeeded Michel Gerebtzoff as the country’s top diplomat here starting in September.
The wide-ranging discussion, published on the chamber’s website Oct. 3, centers on Ms. Raeymaekers’ role representing Belgium’s interests in 10 states across the region.
The consul general describes how a stint as an exchange student in Argentina inspired her diplomatic journey, how she hopes to witness American sports like football and baseball, and why Belgium is an innovation and international trade powerhouse that might surprise American who perceive the country simply as a land of quality chocolate, waffles and beer (which, she says, also happens to be true.)
“I think that people underestimate how much Belgium looks at the world. We are an exporting-importing country: 85 percent of the Belgian economy is linked in some way to international trade and relations. People might also look at the Belgian population as a small market, but being at the heart of Europe, we can serve over 200 million consumers in a radius of 300 miles,” Ms. Raeymaekers told Ms. Jaspard.
Read the full interview here and learn more about the Belgian-American chamber at www.bacos.us.
On Monday, Ms. Jaspard, who succeeded Michael Chen as executive director of the chamber, is hosting a listening session to evaluate the chamber’s performance in meeting members’ needs and expectations.
The Dean Rusk International Law Center at the University of Georgia is the presenting sponsor of Global Atlanta's Diplomacy Channel. Subscribe here for monthly Diplomacy newsletters.