Event Recap: Sixth Annual Global Trade and Investment Symposium

6th Annual Global Trade & Investment Symposium in Macon

February 6, 2025
Wesleyan College

For the sixth year, Global Atlanta worked with Christopher N. Smith, a Macon attorney and the honorary consul of Denmark in Georgia, to host the Global Trade and Investment Symposium, an annual look at how engagement with the global economy enriches Georgia from a business and cultural standpoint.

Hosted at Wesleyan College’s Pierce Chapel in Macon, the discussion brings together diplomats, scholars and business leaders to showcase the state’s connections abroad and help Georgians navigate the complexities of the international landscape.

Local son Stephen Adams, executive director of the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority described the importance of relationships in cross-border deals and how success stories like Irving Tissue (Canada) and YKK (Japan) have become key corporate citizens.

This year’s event featured a French focus, with Consul General Anne-Laure Desjonqueres joining the panel to describe the work of a diplomat and outline how trade and investment with France creates 27,000 jobs. Speaking a stone’s throw from Warner Robins Air Force Base, she also recounted her experiences awarding some of the South’s last surviving World War II veterans with the French Legion of Honor. The ceremonies demonstrate how America’s oldest ally still holds the friendship in high regard.

After Wesleyan President Meaghan Blight’s opening remarks, the event opened with a video showing how Delta Air Lines has flown veterans to France through Battlefield Return programs in each of the last three years. Virginie Durr, a Normandy native who helped bring the program to fruition in her role at Delta, described its origins and outlined the role the airline has played in connecting Americans with the world since it opened its first office in Macon 100 years ago. In honor of Delta’s centennial, a birthday cake was cut during the reception.

Rounding out the panel was Raymond Shelton, vice president and chief sustainability and communications officer of YKK AP, who talked about the Japanese company’s investments in innovation, its new residential window factory in Macon, and its efforts to drive student exchange and sister-city relationships between Macon and its home cities in Japan. Mr. Shelton also recounted his own experience studying in France and gave students some advice about the importance of cross-cultural understanding and language learning.

Diplomats from more than 10 countries were in attendance.

Organized By:

Hosted by:

Speakers

REMARKS:

PANELISTS:

Meaghan Blight,
President, Wesleyan College

“When I think about global trade, it’s not just an act of commerce. It’s about fostering leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and friendship, all core values that are deeply embedded here at Wesleyan.”

Anne-Laure Desjonquères, Consul General of France in Atlanta

“France for the past five years has been No. 1 in foreign investment in Europe. U.S. investment ranked first in stock, manufacturing projects and R&D projects.

We would not like to see any negative developments on that part.

-On the challenges of upheaval in the transatlantic relationship

Stephen Adams,
Executive Director,
Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority

“The worst-case possible scenario is for us is that when a new industry looking at Macon speaks to existing indsutry, they hear, ‘We haven’t talked to anybody in Macon in a long time. They don’t reach out to us, they don’t call us. They aren’t there for us when we need them.’ That would be incredibly devastating to our recruitment efforts.“

-On the importance of existing industry care

Virginie Durr,
Enterprise Sales Manager, Delta Air Lines

“His focus was, we can have airplanes, we can have products, we can have everything, but if we don’t have the people, and if we don’t have a service from the heart — that’s what he called it — then we don’t have anything.”

-On inaugural Delta CEO C.E. Woolman’s philosophy carries over 100 years after the airline’s founding

Raymond Shelton,
Vice President, Chief Sustainability and Communications Officer,
YKK AP America Inc.

“Sustainability is not just about being environmentally friendly. Sustainability is about being sustaining as a business, making sure that we continue to operate and to produce and to be a community partner over time.“