EU Ambassadors’ visit to Maryland

The group visited Maryland, a state with strong cultural and commercial ties to several European Union countries. In the morning, EU Ambassadors met with Maryland Governor, Larry Hogan, currently also serving as Chair of the National Governors Association.

The EU is Maryland’s biggest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Notable EU companies based in Maryland include Sephora (FR), Kingspan (IRL), Guinness (IRL), Tenax (IT), WedoTechnologies (PT) and Volvo (SW), among many others.

The day followed with a group visit from the Ambassador of France to the U.S., Philippe Etienne along with Ambassadors of Portugal, Spain (CdA), and Sweden to meet with UMCES President Dr.Peter Goodwin and MD Secretary for Natural Resources Jeannie Haddaway Riccio. They held a panel discussion on the topic of "The World’s Response to the Climate Crisis: A Roadmap for the Future" at the IMET (Maryland Institute for Marine and Environmental Technology).

Immediately following their separate talks, the Ambassadors reconvened at Fort McHenry, the historic military fort that protected the port during the British attack in 1814 and which inspired Frances Scott Key to compose The Star Spangled Banner, America’s National Anthem.

The day ended with a tour of the American Visionary Arts Museum and an "EU celebrates Maryland" networking and cultural event with remarks from EU Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, Mayor of Baltimore Bernard ’Jack’ Young, Rebecca Alban Hoffberger, Founder of AVAM, the Adjutant General of Maryland Major General Tim Gowen, Deputy Secretary of State Luis Borunda, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Ben Wu, Michael Donilon, Guinness.

For more about the EU’s economic relationship with the State of Maryland, visit http://www.euintheustrade.org/maryland/.