Georgia to Welcome Foreign Ambassadors on Experience America Trip to Atlanta

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue today announced that Georgia will host the Office of the Chief of Protocol’s Diplomatic Partnerships Division as it leads its latest Experience America trip to Atlanta with members of the Diplomatic Corps and their spouses from Oct. 12-15.

Working closely with Governor Perdue and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, the Office of the Chief of Protocol has organized a substantive, unique and exciting trip to plant the seeds of new international partnerships and provide our visitors with a deeper understanding and appreciation of America’s people, culture and values. On average, Chiefs of Mission from over 50 countries have attended Experience America trips representing more than 500 million people worldwide.

“Georgia is incredibly proud to host ambassadors from the across the world to experience both our rich history and our bright future,” Governor Perdue said. “This is a strong testament to Atlanta's reputation as an international leader in business, logistics, education and research.  I expect this event to lead directly to closer diplomatic and economic ties for Georgia across the globe."

Throughout the three day trip, the Ambassadors will criss-cross Atlanta attending events hosted by the Governor of Georgia, the Mayor of Atlanta, Senior Vice President for Global Public Affairs and Communications Clyde Tuggle of Coca-Cola, CNN and the Metro Atlanta Chamber.  Focusing on community development, the Ambassadors will visit the Carter Library, meet with former President Jimmy Carter, participate in a roundtable discussion on global health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with Ambassador Eric Goosby, the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator at PEPFAR and Dr. Tom Frieden, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control moderated by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, take part in a tour and briefing of Georgia Tech including a joint biomedical engineering program with Emory University, visit Morehouse College, tour the Martin Luther King Jr. Visitor’s Center and participate in a wreath laying ceremony.

“Atlanta is a quintessential American city and represents some of the best of American culture, history and business. That makes Atlanta a perfect city for Experience America.” said United States Chief of Protocol Ambassador Capricia Penavic Marshall. “By sharing Atlanta’s story with these distinguished diplomats, we are fostering international goodwill, laying the foundation for new and productive international partnerships and strengthening America’s relationship with countries all around the globe.”

“I am honored that Atlanta is the first city in the Southeast to host Experience America in partnership with the U.S. State Department and the Office of the Chief of Protocol,” said Mayor Reed. “This is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the City of Atlanta’s international investment and economic development opportunities, as well as our unique cultural sites and landmarks, to nearly 50 Ambassadors. Atlanta has long been an international city, and this type of dialogue and engagement is essential to strengthening our ties with leaders from around the globe.”

“Choosing Atlanta to be visited by ambassadors from countries all over the world sends a strong signal -- that Atlanta is where the world comes to do business, make business connections and create jobs,” said Sam A. Williams, president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC). “Today Atlanta has the nation’s fourth-highest concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters in the country, the world’s busiest airport, and a network of world-class universities and colleges.”

Experience America is organized by the Diplomatic Partnerships Division of the Office of the Chief of Protocol whose mission is to foster international goodwill and cultivate the relationship between the Diplomatic Corps and the people and institutions of the United States through an exchange of ideas, cultures and traditions. Atlanta is the first city in the Southeast to host Experience America in this Administration. This is the sixth Experience America trip and second of this Administration. Other destinations included California, Texas, Florida, New York City and Chicago.

Detailed trip schedule and event information for Experience America- Atlanta will be released closer to the trip date.

For interview requests or more information, please contact Kamyl Bazbaz at BazbazK@state.gov or (202) 647-2681.

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