Representatives from 26 European Countries Visit Triangle Businesses in Search of Best Practices, Business Partners

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RESEARCH TRIANGLE REGION, N.C. (May 16, 2022) – The Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP), an economic development group focused on marketing the 12 counties in central North Carolina, hosted representatives from 26 countries from the European Union as part of a conference for the American Chambers of Commerce in Europe (AmCham EU) last week. The region was selected as part of an annual visit to the United States, which included meetings with the Biden administration in Washington D.C. the week prior.  

The Research Triangle Region was chosen for its strong ties to global industries, including healthcare, technology, education and more.

“Everywhere we went and everyone we met, we instantly saw a spirit of ambition, collaboration and innovation,” said Mark Redmond, chief executive of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland. “There was a sense of purpose and self-belief in the Triangle that working together will lead to solving problems and realizing opportunities for business and consumers.”

During the two-day visit, the representatives visited with numerous organizations including North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the North Carolina Biotech Center, where attendees were able to better comprehend how business, academia, and government worked together to create the regional eco-system that is now one of the hottest locations in the country for business. The group also met with local and global leaders, including Jim Goodnight, CEO and founder of SAS; Drew Shoemaker, managing director at Credit Suisse; Marina Carreker, president of Bandwidth; and former Ambassadors Jim Cain and Barbara Stephenson.  

“The delegation to the Triangle was more than expected,” said Ajša Vodnik, chief executive of the American Chamber of Commerce Slovenia. “We all agreed that we have never experienced such exceptional hospitality and willingness to cooperate as we did in North Carolina.”

The AmCham EU is the umbrella organization for 46 American Chambers of Commerce from 44 countries. Each year, the organization plans and attends two conferences, one in Europe and one in the United States. The U.S. trip begins with a stop in the nation’s capital to meet with the U.S. administration to discuss the importance of transatlantic cooperation, trade, and investment. The second leg of the trip involves a visit to one American city, this year being Raleigh, where representatives learn about methods and best practices for developing the American economy and society, and locating potential business partners.

The 2022 conference visit to the Research Triangle Region included visitors from across the European Union, including:

  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • Gibraltar
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Montenegro
  • The Netherlands
  • North Macedonia
  • Poland
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Sweden
  • The United Kingdom

The representatives from the AmCham EU visiting the North Carolina Governor’s Mansion.

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Contact: Ashley Warren Riley
Email: ariley@researchtriangle.org