Green Worldwide Shipping is the presenting sponsor of Global Atlanta's Trade Channel. Sign up here for monthly global trade updates.
A new trade representative for the Belgian region of Flanders has taken up the Atlanta post vacated when former commissioner Wim Van Cauteren left for Mexico City last September.
Flanders Investment and Trade has tapped Conny Van Wulpen comes to Atlanta off of a seven-year stint at the organization’s office in Casablanca, Morocco. Before that, her 19-year career with the agency includes stints in Montreal and Lyon, France.
She also represents the Brussels region here in the South.
“We are happy that Belgium’s representation in the Southeast U.S. is at full strength again,” said Belgian Consul General William De Baets in an emailed statement to Global Atlanta. “We are looking forward to working together to further strengthen the business relations between our countries and regions.””
The Flanders office aims to help companies in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina seek out investments and boost trade with Flemish-speaking region. Mrs. Van Wulpen arrived in August.
“During these first three months here, I have enjoyed the friendliness and openness of the business community in Atlanta. I have also started to get in touch with the Flemish companies established in Georgia and will continue to do so in the coming months,” she told Global Atlanta. “I’m really looking forward to continue to get to know Atlanta, Georgia and the other six states that our office is covering, and will do my best to strengthen the relationship between my region and Southeast USA.”
Flanders is no stranger to Atlanta. In addition to its longtime presence through an office here (now housed within the consulate), the region’s minister-president accompanied Dutch prime minister on a joint trade mission to the city in 2015 focusing on fintech, cybersecurity and logistics. Located in the Flemish capital, the Port of Antwerp is the second largest by tonnage in Europe. It also has a strong presence of chemical and petrochemical companies.
Contact Mrs. Van Wulpen at atlanta@fitagency.com or by phone at (404) 659-9611.
Learn more about the Belgian consulate here.
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.
