Georgia Welcomes New Consulate General for Belgium

ATLANTA, April 7, 2010 – Governor Sonny Perdue today welcomed the announcement that the government of Belgium is elevating its Atlanta consular office to full Consulate General.  With this announcement, the Honorable Benoît Standaert will assume the position of Consul General. 'I'm pleased to congratulate Consul General Benoît Standaert and the Belgian government on its decision to expand its mission in Atlanta,' said Governor Perdue.  'Georgia enjoys a dynamic relationship with Belgium through diplomacy and international business, and I look forward to the growth of this relationship through the new Consulate General.' The Consulate General will serve the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as the Commonwealth of Kentucky except for Campbell and Kenton counties.  In addition to issuing visas and passports and performing other consular services, the office will handle economic development and trade functions. The new Consulate General will also promote trade, investment, tourism, academic and cultural relationships. 'By expanding our government's mission in Atlanta through the new office of the Consulate General, the Kingdom of Belgium is recognizing the great importance of its relationships with Georgia and other southeastern states in the U.S.,' said Consul General Benoît Standaert.  'I look forward to the work that lies ahead, and sustaining the valuable relationships Belgium shares with states throughout the Southeast. Together with the Flanders Investment & Trade Office, the Wallonia Export & Investment Office and the Belgian-American Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta, I am confident we will be able to promote significantly the excellent contacts existing between Belgium and the Southeastern United States of America.' Through Georgia's existing ties with Belgium, Atlanta has a sister city relationship with Brussels, and the city of Dalton, Ga., has a sister city relationship with Dilbeek, Belgium.   Belgium ranks 10th among Georgia's export destinations, and Georgia ranks ninth among states exporting to Belgium. Georgia leads among U.S. states in exports of wood pulp, salt, sulfur, earth and stone, and fats and oils to Belgium. The state ranks second in exports of products of animal origin and carpets and other textile floor coverings, and third in tobacco.  The Port of Savannah has three services that ship weekly to Antwerp and one service that ships every 10 days to Zeebrugge. 'We look forward to broadening our existing relationship with Consul General Standaert and his staff,' said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. 'With the new office of the Consulate General of Belgium in Atlanta, Georgia's presence as a global leader is heightened, creating the potential for expanded international business opportunities.' Several Georgia companies have operations in Belgium including Delta Air Lines, Newell Rubbermaid, the Coca-Cola Company, UPS, CIBA Vision Corporation, Kimberly-Clark Health Care and Russell Corporation, among others.  Belgian companies including ABX Logistics USA, Bekaert Corporation, Solvay, UCB, IVC, Balta, Enfinity, Resilux America and Bosal North America operate facilities in Georgia.  Delta Air Lines currently offers direct daily flights from Atlanta to Belgium.