The European nation that manufactures the world’s most cars per capita has established a diplomatic foothold in the Southeast U.S., which shares its automotive affinity and some of the same nameplates.
Slovakia‘s newly tapped honorary consul, based in Atlanta with jurisdiction covering Georgia and South Carolina, also has arguably some of the deepest experience around when it comes to linking up local companies with international opportunities.
John Woodward, vice president of global commerce at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, was officially installed as Slovakia’s first diplomat in the region this week as letters were presented to the governors of the neighboring states.
The Slovak Republic is a country of 6 million people in Central Europe, bordering the Czech Republic, with which it shared a nation until 1992, as well as Austria, Hungary, Poland and Ukraine to the west. Slovakia is a European Union member and part of the euro zone. It’s also a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance, or NATO.
Its exploration of an honorary consulate in Georgia began more than two years ago in advance of a visit of the country’s then-ambassador, Ivan Korčok, who saw a “void” in its U.S. outreach in the Southeast.
Just before COVID-19 emerged, Mr. Woodward hosted him on an “exploratory mission” to Atlanta, arranging a flurry of meetings and sending the ambassador off with an Atlanta Falcons scarf for his son. Mr. Korčok also met with Gov. Brian Kemp and shared ideas about tackling workforce development challenges while broaching the prospect of taking a delegation to the country.
The two sides have much to discuss when it comes to the automotive industry, sharing significant investment from brands like Stellantis and Kia. Germany‘s Volkswagen, which has a factory just across the Georgia border in Chattanooga, Tenn., operates Slovakia’s largest factory in Bratislava, the capital. Georgia and South Carolina have a huge presence of German automotive suppliers.
“Certainly the parallel of significant automotive sectors in Slovakia and this region is a compelling reason to strengthen economic relations. And there are other opportunities for growth as well,” Mr. Woodward told Global Atlanta.
Slovakia generates about 12 percent of its economic output from car manufacturing and at last count was the ninth largest automotive exporter to the United States, despite its relatively small size. Electrification is a priority in both locales, which have attracted transformative battery projects setting the tone for the next phase in the industry’s growth.
Now minister of foreign affairs in Slovakia, Mr. Korčok helped drive Mr. Woodward’s appointment in two states with a combined Slovak diaspora of more than 11,000 people. His responsibilities will include legalizing signatures and document copies, as well as issuing emergency travel documents.
But many honorary consulates, including that of the Czech Republic, with which Slovakia shares a heritage and linguistic foundation, focus heavily on cultural and economic programming in addition to their consular roles.
“Mr. Woodward will significantly contribute to the development of bilateral relations in the political, defense, economic and cultural fields, and to the development of trade, tourism, education and science exchange between the Slovak Republic and the U.S. states of Georgia and South Carolina,” current Slovakian Ambassador Radovan Javorčík said in a news release.
Fluent in German and French, Mr. Woodward is known for his deep experience wooing foreign investment into metro Atlanta’s 29 counties, starting when he joined the chamber as director of foreign investment in 2006. Nearly three years ago, he assumed responsibility for all of the chamber’s global commerce efforts, including its export-development programs bolstering local firms’ international sales. Katie Kirkpatrick, president at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, where the Slovak consulate will be housed, said Mr. Woodward exemplified a “excellent ability to work collaboratively and with tactful diplomacy” that will benefit both sides.
“I am confident this new honorary consulate will present an opportunity to increase trade, investment and cultural connections between Slovakia and Georgia and South Carolina, and will elevate our states’ profiles in Slovakia and vice versa,” Mr. Woodward said in a statement.
Before coming to Atlanta, Mr. Woodward was director of the Department of Economic Development for the City of Richmond, Va. Previously he worked in finance at Cushman & Wakefield in New York City, and he was a foreign exchange consultant with Ruesch International in Washington, DC. He holds a BSFS from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business. He also completed studies at the University of Strasbourg and Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC), both in France.
Mr. Woodward will join a more than 70-country diplomatic corps in Atlanta, home to more than 40 other honorary consulates, including outposts for Slovakia’s neighboring countries of Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.
“These other Central European countries have excellent honorary consuls in place, and I look forward to collaborating with them regarding region-wide efforts,” Mr. Woodward told Global Atlanta. “I have been to Slovakia several times, including meeting with foreign ministry officials in preparation for this role. But I need educate myself more on the country outside of Bratislava. I plan to visit Košice and other areas during my next trip.”
Czech Honorary Consul Monika Vintrlikova welcomed Mr. Woodward to the consular corps.
“I am excited to get a helping hand to serve and represent the Czech and Slovak diaspora. We are linked through our mutual history, where Czechoslovakia was one country until December 1992,” Ms. Vintrlikova told Global Atlanta. “Czechs and Slovaks are nations that hold above-standard relations and the excellent connection between these communities in Georgia is conclusive proof of that. There is so much what we can accomplish together, especially on cultural and educational fronts. I am sure that John’s extensive knowledge of local environment will boost The Czech and Slovak School of Atlanta to new levels.”
Slovakia is also opening a new honorary consulate in Los Angeles this week.
Read more about Slovakia in this story: Interview: Slovak Ambassador Explores Partnerships in Cars, Workforce and Beyond
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