Join us for a Diplomatic Dialogue reception with Katherine Raeymaekers, Consul General of Belgium in Atlanta. After an hour of networking, Consul General Raeymaekers will discuss the work of the Consul of Belgium, her experiences during her career postings and her observations on global affairs with Mark Pierson, ACIR's President. The Diplomatic Dialogue attendees will then have the opportunity to ask the Consul General questions. Remarks are off-the-record and cannot be recorded but social media posts are encouraged.
Date: Wednesday, September 24th, 2025
Time: 5:00 pm. to 7:30 pm.
Venue: Offices of Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP 171 17th Street, NW, Suite 2100 Atlanta, GA 30363
Parking: Will be validated at event, please bring your parking ticket to the Diplomatic Dialogue. Click HERE for parking and directions.
Price: $15 Members (including Belgium Chamber members), $20 Non-members, $5 Students (GATech, Mercer, KSU & UNG only). Approved Interns free.
You must pay online to register. For registration questions please contact info@atlantacir.org.
Registration Closes on Monday, September 22nd, at 5 P.M.
Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel, please do so no later than 48 hours before start of the event. NO refund can be provided after that.
By registering, I understand that photos and/or video may be taken at this program, and agree that these materials may be used for promotional purposes. Please contact the programming team with questions: info@atlantacir.org
Members are welcome to bring non-member friends to ACIR events at member rates. The same guest may only be invited once at member rates.
Thank you for supporting this ACIR event with your attendance.
For general information or questions about registration
email us at: info@atlantacir.org
About Consul General Katherine Raeymaekers
After joining the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2008, as a career diplomat, she served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Belgian Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria (2009-2013) and in Budapest, Hungary (2013-2017). Prior to the USA she served as Political and Economic Counsellor at the Belgian Embassy in Rabat, Morocco (2020-2024).
Between 2017 and 2020, she served as counsellor at the Department for European Coordination within the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for matters related to transport, telecom/digital, as well as energy/environmental oversight.
She holds a Master Degree in Political Sciences – International Relations from the University of Ghent (2000), Belgium, and took post-graduate courses in Regional Cooperation – Mercosur at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina (2001-2003).
She is fluent in six languages: Dutch, French, English, Spanish, Italian and German, as well as semi-fluent in both Bulgarian and Hungarian.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Consul General Raeymaekers enjoys exploring nature, with hiking and biking being two of her favorite activities outdoors. Mrs. Raeymaekers was born on the 10th of June, 1977, and is married with one child.
Belgium-Georgia Economic Relations
EXPORTS: In 2023, Georgia exports to Belgium totaled $1.5 billion. Belgium is the seventh largest export market for Georgia.
Top exports from Georgia to Belgium include turbojets, medical instruments, heterocyclic compounds, pharmaceutical bandages, and automatic processing machine.
At least 50 Belgian companies support jobs for over 4,000 Georgians. Examples of significant Belgian investment in Georgia include Anheuser Busch Inc. located in Bartow County, and UCB, a global pharmaceutical company with U.S. headquarters in Atlanta.
Georgia leads the nation in the export of the following goods to Belgium: gas, turbines, and pharmaceutical bandages.
IMPORTS: In 2023, Georgia imports from Belgium totaled $2.4 billion. Belgium ranks 17th among Georgia's importer nations.
Top imports from Belgium to Georgia include immunological products, television, receivers, diphosphorus pentaoxide, and motor vehicles.
More than 25 Georgian companies have operations in Belgium.
U.S.-Belgium Bilateral Economic Relations
The United States is Belgium's largest foreign investor outside of the EU, with more than 900 U.S. businesses employing nearly 130,000 people in Belgium. Belgium is the fourteenth-largest source of foreign direct investment in the United States, with $71 billion of investment into the U.S. stock market.
U.S.-Belgium International Relations
Belgium's efforts on global security and multilateral issues are key to defending shared democratic values across the world. Belgium has taken on important roles supporting Ukraine against Russia's aggression, including leading F-16 sustainment efforts within the Air Force Capability Coalition and creating a €1.7 billion (approximately $1.8 billion) Ukraine Assistance Fund by using tax revenues from the profits generated by immobilized Russian Sovereign Assets to fund military assistance.
Belgium and the United States belong to a number of the same International organizations, including the United Nation, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Council of Europe, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.
