The Gwinnett Chamber, Partnership Gwinnett, and the French American Chamber of Commerce of Atlanta Southeast (FACC-Atlanta) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) this week during an official ceremony at the Gwinnett Chamber’s monthly Board of Directors meeting. Like the Gwinnett Chamber’s partnership agreements with its nine other bi-lateral chambers, the MOU recognized the intent of these organizations to collaborate, champion and drive global business in both the region and abroad.

“The Gwinnett Chamber was proud to include the French American Chamber of Commerce Atlanta Southeast as a partner during last year’s Multi-Chamber Mixer,” said Dean Collins, 2023 Chair of the Gwinnett Chamber Board of Directors. “We look forward to strengthening the two-way investments between Gwinnett and France.”

Since its foundation in 1985, FACC-Atlanta has promoted and supported French American business opportunities throughout France and the Southeast United States. In 2021, the chamber relocated its office to Curiosity Lab in Peachtree Corners to better support the booming tech ecosystem in this mega region.

“The French American Chamber of Commerce of Atlanta Southeast is proud to join forces with the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce,” said Katherine Lafourcade, FACC-Atlanta’s Executive Director. “We have been fortunate to grow our presence in Gwinnett County following our move to Curiosity Lab in Peachtree Corners in September 2021. Aligning our efforts will help us reinforce our presence in the local area and make the activities of the French American Chamber better known to local companies, whether they are of French origin with a presence in Gwinnett County or US companies interested in the tremendous business opportunities that France has to offer. We are happy to make this partnership official and are looking forward to many years of collaboration.

In addition to FACC-Atlanta’s presence in Curiosity Lab, La French Tech Atlanta is also located in Peachtree Corners’ living laboratory for startups and existing companies to assess developing technologies in real world environments. La French Tech brings together startups, investors, policy makers and community builders to transform the French startup scene.

Joining Executive Director Katherine Lafourcade for the MOU signing ceremony was Atlanta’s French Consul General Anne-Laure Desjonquères. “The French American Chamber of Commerce plays a key role in promoting mutual understanding and economic relations between France and the US,” said Consul General Desjonquères. “I am proud to support this exciting new partnership between the Gwinnett Chamber and the French American Chamber that will further strengthen business ties between local companies and France.”

France’s foreign direct investment represents the fifth largest global presence in Georgia and Gwinnett and has created more than 24,000 jobs and $3.4 billion in annual trade. Since its inception in 2007, Partnership Gwinnett has led two trade mission trips to France in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the French American Chamber of Atlanta Southeast, Georgia Power and the Metro Atlanta Chamber.

To learn more about FACC-Atlanta, visit FACC-Atlanta.com. To better understand the Gwinnett Chamber and Partnership Gwinnett missions to champion and drive global business, visit GwinnettChamber.org and PartnershipGwinnett.com, respectively.