INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT

OFFICE OVERVIEW

The Office of International Affairs and External Relations, a division of the Mayor’s Executive Offices, was established to create and maintain working relationships with state, federal and local government entities; consular and diplomatic corps, bi-lateral chambers of commerce and international trade offices in order to maximize the City’s opportunities to impact public policy, increase revenues, and foster its growing stature as a global city and key player in trade and commerce.

Additionally, the office provides staff support to the Atlanta Sister Cities Commission (ASCC) and CIFAL Atlanta. Since 1974, the Atlanta Sister Cities Commission (ASCC) has been an affiliate of Sister Cities International (SCI), the national membership association for sister-city, county and state programs in the United States. Click here for more information on Atlanta's 18 sister city linkages and the work done to promote economic development, education partnerships and cultural exchange.

CIFAL Atlanta was inaugurated in September 2004 as a joint initiative between the United Nations and the City of Atlanta and is the only such center in North America. The 12 worldwide CIFAL Centers provide training for local authorities, mayors, governors or municipal councilors and their key executives as well as provide sector and civil society leaders in the area of sustainable urbanization and environment, information society, and human, social economic development. CIFAL Atlanta serves city leaders throughout the Western Hemisphere.

SITES OF INTEREST

The Advisory Committee on International Relations (ACIR)

-Umbrella committee, created by the Atlanta City Council, of international organizations in Atlanta.

World Trade Center Atlanta

- World Trade Center Atlanta is a member of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), which provides service to those who develop and facilitate international trade. With its unique global mission and membership, the WTCA has been a world leader in creating innovative service for international business.

GlobalAtlanta.com

- Weekly business newsletter with focus on Atlanta and wider Georgia area.

Georgia Council for International Visitors (GCIV)

- Georgia Council for International Visitors (GCIV) is a nonprofit, community-based organization whose mission is to build cross-cultural understanding and mutually beneficial personal and professional relationships between Georgians and leading citizens from around the globe.

Consulates and Trade Offices in Georgia

- Up-to-date list of offices that foreign governments establish to help international business efforts by developing economic, commercial, scientific and cultural relations between the countries they represent and their host location.

CARE USA

- CARE is a leading humanitarian organization headquartered in Atlanta dedicated to fighting global poverty in the poorest communities in the world. Mayor Franklin serves as a Care USA Ambassador.

The Carter Center

- The Carter Center is committed to advancing human rights and alleviating human suffering. Founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, the Atlanta-based Center has helped to improve the quality of life for people in more than 65 countries.