The Dallas Regional Chamber, the European-American Business Council (EABC), and the World Affairs Council of Dallas Fort Worth welcomed officials from the European Union (EU) and the European Commission for a private dinner sponsored by Mary Kay Inc. on April 23rd at the Tower Club. The dinner was attended by about 85 business and industry leaders.

The dinner program included a sneak preview of the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Global DFW study presented by Ambassador James C. Oberwetter, President of the Dallas Regional Chamber. Members of the Chamber’s Economist Council and Dr. Lyssa Jenkens, Ph.D., Chief Economist and Vice President of Research, conducted an ongoing study to assess the region’s competitive advantages and challenges in the global economy. The dinner program also included a welcome address and a brief company profile of Mary Kay Inc. by Chief Executive Officer, David Holl. The evening concluded with a presentation from EABC President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Maibach’s presentation on “The Atlantic Century: US and EU Innovation and Competitiveness Metrics.”

The European Commission delegation included Laurent Bochereau, Head of Science and Technology, and Michaela Muranova, the Special Trade Advisor. Representatives from the EU delegation included embassy officials from 15 EU Nations, including Patrick Herman, Minister Counselor, Economic (Belgium); Nicolay Valvo, Head of Economic and Commercial Section (Bulgaria); Martin Dvorak, Economic and Commercial Counselor (EU Presidency, Czech Republic); Toomas Moor, Head of Economic Section (Estonia); Aymeril Hoang, Economic Counselor for Technology and Innovation (France); Juergen Morhard, Counselor, Head of the Economic and Commercial Section (Germany); Istvan Molnar, Investment and Trade Commissioner (Hungarian Consulate, Los Angeles); Eamonn Confrey, First Secretary, Information and Communications Policy (Ireland); Georges Faber, Luxembourg Consul General (San Francisco); Marcel Beukeboom, Counselor for Economic and Commercial Affairs (Netherlands); Luis Moura, North American Director (Portugal Global Development Agency); Viorel Onel, Economic Minister Counselor (Romania); Martin Kaco, Trade and Economic Counselor (Slovakia); Irena Lukac, Economic Counselor (Slovenia); and Nick Bridge, Counselor, Global Issues (United Kingdom).

The Chamber is pleased to have co-hosted the dinner and looks forward to organizing future events that further cultivate the relationship between the United States and the European Union.

For more information about the International Business Council, its events, and accomplishments, please visit www.dallaschamber.org/global. For more information about the Global DFW study, please visit www.dallaschamber.org.