Diplomatic Dialogue reception with Jacob Veerman, Consul General of the Netherlands in Atlanta
Join us for a Diplomatic Dialogue reception with Jacob Veerman, Consul General of the Netherlands in Atlanta. After an hour of networking, Consul General Veerman will discuss the work of the Netherlands Consulate, his experiences during his career postings and his observations on global affairs with Mark Pierson, ACIR's Director of Diplomatic Outreach and Strategic Development. The reception attendees (limited to 30) will then have the opportunity to ask the Consul General questions. Remarks are strictly off-the-record and not recorded.
Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m.
Venue: Consulate General of the Netherlands
1075 Peachtree Street,
Suite 1550,
Atlanta, GA 30309
Parking: 1075 Peachtree Street NE parking garage with entrances on 11th and 12th Street.
For your safety and the safety of others, ACIR requests that only fully vaccinated people or those immune from a previous COVID Infection attend.
About Consul General Jacob Veerman
Jacob is the senior Netherlands government representative in the Southeast United States responsible for relations with the states of Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama. He leads a team that works to promote NL-US trade and investment, support Dutch nationals, conduct public diplomacy on key issues, and build scientific and research co-operation.
Consul General Veerman is an internationally experienced diplomat specializing in economic diplomacy, business development, change and project management. He has broad knowledge and experience in the field of water management, agriculture, horticulture, life sciences and health, infrastructure and logistics. He has a master’s degree in social economic history from Amsterdam University and has a Bachelor’s degree in Education and began his career as a geography teacher at a Dutch High School in Hoorn, the Netherlands.
For the past 30 years he has held various positions at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, most recently as the Dutch representative to the Asian Development Bank in Manila, Philippines. His diverse postings include Sr. Policy Advisor at the Dutch Embassy in Paramaribo (Surinam), Dutch Deputy Consul General in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Deputy Ambassador at the Dutch Embassy in Mexico City and Director of the Documentary Information Systems Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Jacob was born in Volendam, the Netherlands. He and his wife Petra have two children, Sandra and Thomas who are both in University in the Netherlands. He and Petra love to travel, visit museums and galleries and are passionate collectors of Chinese antique porcelain and Dutch Design.
About United States – Netherlands Relations
The U.S. partnership with the Netherlands dates to the American Revolution, with the “First Salute” of the USS Andrew Doria at Fort Oranje on Sint Eustatius.
The United States established formal diplomatic relations with the Netherlands in 1782; one of the U.S.’ oldest, continuous bilateral relationships. These excellent ties are based on close historical and cultural bonds as well as a common dedication to individual freedom, democratic principles, and human rights. The United States and the Netherlands share similar positions on many important issues and work together bilaterally and multilaterally in such institutions as the United Nations (UN) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The United States and the Netherlands work together closely on international security, the international legal order, counterterrorism, non-proliferation, international free trade, sustainable development and protecting human rights.
The Netherlands is a major partner with the US on water and climate adaptation issues. We also work together in the field of economic sustainability, including on green greenhouses, offshore and urban wind energy, green construction, and cycling policy.
Netherlands – U.S. Economic Relationship
The Netherlands is a fixture in the top five of largest foreign investors in the US, and The Netherlands ranks No. 1 as the country with which the US maintains a trade surplus. The economic ties between our countries support 928,721 American jobs.
With its favorable business climate, highly trained workforce, and strategic position in Europe, the Netherlands attracts a lot of American business too. The US is the #1 foreign investor in the Netherlands, and Netherlands is the 2nd destination for US FDI after the UK. In 2019, US enterprises based in the Netherlands supported 259,000 jobs and $304.2 billion in sales.
The 2021 Global Innovation Index rated the Netherlands as the second most innovative country in the EU and sixth in the world. The World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index ranks the Netherlands as the most competitive economy in Europe.
Netherlands – Georgia Bilateral Trade and Investment:
EXPORTS: In 2020, Georgia exports to the Netherlands totaled $1.02 billion. The Netherlands is the 8th largest export market for Georgia. Top exports from Georgia to the Netherlands include apparatus for telephone transmissions, aircraft, tractors, wood fuel, and computers. Georgia leads the nation in the export of the following goods to the Netherlands: tractors, peanuts, and reaction initiators.
IMPORTS: In 2020, Georgia imports from the Netherlands totaled $927 million. The Netherlands ranks 22nd among Georgia’s importer nations. Top imports from the Netherlands to Georgia include computers, beer, motor vehicles, machinery for food and beverage production, and synthetic yarn.
There are at least 43 Georgia companies with operations in The Netherlands, including Georgia-Pacific, InComm, Interface, The Coca-Cola Company, Travelport, and WestRock. There are at least 293 Dutch facilities operating in Georgia. These facilities employ more than 10,700 Georgians. Leading Dutch companies in Georgia based on investment include DSM Engineering Plastics, Inalfa, Randstad, VDL Groep and CSM Bakery Solutions.
Belgium is also a key provider of humanitarian, reconstruction, and development assistance to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, as well as many countries in Africa. As the host country of the EU and NATO headquarters, Belgium plays an important role in European and Transatlantic diplomacCo-Host:
Diplomatic Dialogue 2022 Sponsor
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Strategic Partner
Sam Nunn School of International Affairs
Georgia Institute of Technology
