Nico Wijnberg is Chief of Protocol for the State of Georgia and Director of International Relations at the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), the sales and marketing arm for the state. In this role, Mr. Wijnberg leads the team dedicated to strategically cultivating and expanding Georgia’s international relationships. These responsibilities include serving as the State’s liaisons to foreign governments and the Consular Corps, coordinating international missions, and welcoming visiting delegations. In addition to liaising with more than 70 foreign governments in the state with an official presence through Consulate or trade offices, more than 30 bi-national chambers are invested in Georgia’s international business community.
Mr. Wijnberg previously served as Director of International Investment in GDEcD’s Global Commerce division, where his team focused on increasing jobs and investment in Georgia through locating new businesses from around the world, working closely with GDEcD’s 12 global offices.
Before joining GDEcD in 2008 by way of the Netherlands, Mr. Wijnberg served in the Dutch Federal Department of Economic Development as a specialist in Russia and Central Asia. He also brings experience to the Department based on the time he spent working in both Latvia and France.
Mr. Wijnberg received his master’s degree in international affairs from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, where he also studied European and international law, international economics, and business. He has extensive experience in various aspects of international economic development. Mr. Wijnberg speaks Dutch, German, and French and has working knowledge of Italian and Russian. An active member of the international business community, he is involved in several bi-national chambers in the Atlanta area.
He currently resides in Midtown Atlanta.