Charles Rivkin, the highly decorated former ambassador to France and current assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs at the U.S. State Department, didn’t forget his business roots during a visit to Atlanta June 3.
The main purpose of his visit was to deliver an address to the World Affairs Council of Atlanta underscoring the importance of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), but he also managed a visit with Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials and had lunch with senior executives of leading local small- to medium-sized companies.
His business career included serving as president and CEO of award-winning entertainment companies such as The Jim Henson Company, home of the “Muppets,” which was sold for nearly $1 billion to EM.TV in 2000. He also was executive producer of the hit TV series Yo Gabba Gabba!.
In keeping with the upbeat attitude of his media successes, he unwrapped the case favoring TPP with an optimism contrasting sharply with the rhetoric of the current political campaigns.
“I firmly believe the America people will support TPP if they are simply give the facts and the figures,” he said. “When it comes to TPP, the bottom line is this: American businesses, workers, farmers and consumers can all benefit greatly.”
He also asserted that “…when TPP passes — and eventually T-TIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) tariffs will be removed from many sectors.”
Among the businesses that he cited are to benefit include: transportation equipment, non-electrical machinery, computer and electronic products, chemicals, processed foods, electrical equipment,
2:00 Escorted through security by ATL protocol officer
Click here to read his formal remarks.
Following a tour of their firms, he met with local executives for lunch at the Auburn Market. Joining him for lunch at the market were Suman Das, CEO, DDM Systems, the manufacturing and 3D printing firm that was highly honored at the 2016 Hannover Messe trade show with its nomination to the prestigious Hermes Award; Catherine Downing, CEO of CATMEDIA, a television and media project management firm; Ed Juline, director of sales of the SASCO Chemical Group which produces more than a thousand industrial products; Reginald Maisonneuve, president and founder of ieDea LLC, a financial management firm and Albert Assad, vice president of business development for Trade Rocket Inc., a supply chain management firm.
Before leaving for Washington, he visited airport officials at Hartsfield-Jackson.
To learn more about World Affairs Council of Atlanta events, click here.