The recognition of Anton F. Mertens, the immigration of the partner of the Burrr & Forman LLP law firm based in Atlanta, with his award of the Belgian's king, signed by King Philippe, signed by Leopold of the renowned officer of fame.
A long ago, the economic developers of Georgia recognized that one of the best incentives to gain investments from overseas is not to have any flights from Atlanta to other cities around the world.
As the first international airline that came to Atlanta, the arrival of Sabena Belgian World Airlines in 1978 formed the truth of this claim. So many Belgian companies came to Georgia that the Belgian visitors joked at the time of the 1996 Summer Olympics that the state had become an additional province of their country.
The success of the annual “taste of Belgium”, which marked world -famous cooks, became a highlight of international social events in Atlanta, and an American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium flourished.
After Sabena left business in 1991, the chamber's activities decreased and the famous “taste of the Belgian” events disappeared.
Then the mayor of Atlanta, Andrew Young, kept the flame alive by signing a sister city contract with the European capital in 1983, but faded the profile of Belgium. Even the state of Georgia finally moved its European headquarters from Brussels to Munich.
Nevertheless, the memories of the lively relationship remained, and Delta Air Lines Inc.'s acceptance of Sabena's flights remained an important link. Mr. Mertens together with a group of others who wanted to revitalize the relationship decided to activate a new chamber that Belgian-American Chamber of the South.
Ania Lacke and Pieter de Crem in the Metro Atlanta Chamber, where he promised to return with a trade delegation.
These efforts were encouraged by Pierre Everaert, the former chairman of the INBEV board, the world's largest brewer, and Olivier Snekens, a Vice President of the US corporate banking banks from Belgian KBC Bank, who were active in a Belgian-American Chamber in New York.
In the meantime, Didier Reynders, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, became a consultant for economic diplomacy with responsibility to promote foreign investments from Belgium in the southeast.
In order not to be exceeded, Mr. Mertens returned to Brussels in July 2016 to meet Ruth Briz, Officer Affairs Officer of Brussels, to revitalize the sister city in Atlanta Brussels, which he is now running.
Pieter de Crem is preparing to return to Brussels on the new plan Delta Air Lines flight on March 25th.
Mr. Mertens' more than 20 years of service to Belgium was recognized at a reception that took place at Burr-forman's Atlanta office in Atlantic Station on the evening of March 23 by Pieter de Crem, Foreign Minister for Foreign Trade in Belgium and the former deputy prime minister of the district and Minister of Defense of the district.
Many well -wishers took part in the ceremony, including William de Baets, the Belgian Consul General. Paul Jacobson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from Delta Airlines, and the mayor of Atlanta, Kasim Reed.
Mr. de Crem was in Atlanta to celebrate the resumption of the Nonstop flight between Atlanta and Brussels, which was stopped after the terrorist attacks in 2016. During a lunch in the Metro Atlanta Chamber earlier a day when he was able to return with a trade delegation in the near future.
