France’s ambassador to the United States, Philippe Etienne, will meet with Gov. Brian Kemp and other political and business leaders to strengthen France’s business ties with Georgia on a three-day trip to Atlanta.
The trip, Etienne’s first to the state, will also highlight France’s cultural ties with Georgia, the Consulate General of France in Atlanta announced in a news release.
Etienne is scheduled to meet with Kemp on Monday to discuss bilateral relations, a spokeswoman with the consulate said. Atlanta is one of three cities on Etienne's visit throughout the Southeast, which is home to about 15,000 French citizens, according to the Consulate General of France in Atlanta.
In recent years, France has positioned itself as one of the top foreign countries providing jobs in Georgia. There have been 22,000 jobs created by French companies in Georgia, according to the French Treasury in the U.S, the economic department in the French Embassy. There are at least 30 French businesses operating in Georgia, including Orange Business Services, a subsidiary of the French multinational telecommunications group, with its American headquarters in Atlanta.
The French ambassador's scheduled visit comes a month after the Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Company announced a $1 billion investment in France that would help introduce new products in the country. Etienne will meet with business leaders at Orange Business Services and Coca-Cola.
On Tuesday, Etienne will help introduce the Rodney Cook Sr. Peace Park with Ambassador Andrew Young and historian and native Atlantan Rodney Mims Cook Jr. The trio will discuss the French ties to the park, which sits in Vine City.
Etienne planned to kick off his visit Sunday with trips to The King Center and the Carter Center and a meeting with representatives from the Atlanta University Center.
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