August 24, 2023 – Twinning between the CCPN and the ACHQ

Signature of the memorandum of understanding between the Association of Honorary Consuls of the Quebec Region, represented by its President, Tommy Byrne 🇪🇸, and the Consular Corps of the Province of Namur, represented by its President, Magali Dugardin 🇨🇬, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Congo in Wallonia, in the presence of the Mayor of Namur, Maxime Prévot, and the Mayor of Quebec City, Bruno Marchand.

The ceremony was masterfully organized by Yann Gall, General Delegate of the Wallonia-Brussels Delegation in Quebec, as part of the multidisciplinary mission of the City of Namur.

Many thanks to Annick Castiaux, Jeroen Darquennes, Anne Barzin, Philippe Noël, Renaud Degueldre, Frédéric Laloux, Serge Gosselin, Charlotte Braibant, 🇲🇳 Frédéric Lernoux, as well as our Quebec colleagues 🇲🇽 Gerardo Almaguer, 🇧🇪 Hélène Chalifour Scherrer, 🇧🇴 Jaime Siles, 🇩🇰 André Vautour, 🇳🇴 Marie Godbout, 🇳🇱 Charles Beaudet, 🇸🇪 Charles Gagnon and 🇹🇷 Özdemir Ergin.

Speech delivered at the signing:

What is a consul? If you asked me, I would say that their role is to establish and strengthen bridges between nations.

Our association was created with the goal of uniting honorary consuls—passionate individuals who work daily to develop economic, cultural, and academic relations between the states they represent and the Province of Namur.

Naturally, these efforts have always been pursued from a bilateral perspective, reinforcing the close ties between two regions or countries.

So why sign a memorandum of understanding between two consular corps? Why engage in a process that may seem counterintuitive? And I’d like to point out that, to my knowledge, such an initiative is a first.

The answer lies largely in the strength of the ties and friendship that unite Namur and Quebec. But also in the fact that we live in a world in constant evolution, a world where borders are blurring and where multilateralism becomes a powerful force.

This signature is more than just a simple agreement between two parties. It’s a recognition of the importance of multilateralism and a statement that even entities designed for bilateral relations can—and should—embrace wider cooperation.

By joining our consular corps, we acknowledge the value and richness that arise from sharing our strengths, knowledge, and networks.

Let me give you a concrete example of this multilateralism in action: The Economic Diplomacy Day, organized by the Consular Corps of Namur, brings together over 50 ambassadors—there were 53 at the last edition—along with Belgian, Luxembourgish, Dutch, and French companies. All gathered in a spirit of business development and partnership. It’s a vibrant illustration of the multilateral dynamism we aim to foster.

And why not dream bigger? With this agreement now in place, it is entirely conceivable to welcome our Quebec colleagues and further enrich this initiative by building even greater bridges.

In conclusion, this protocol is not just a document. It embodies a vision of the future where cooperation, mutual understanding, and a willingness to transcend traditional boundaries guide our actions.

Today, Namur and Quebec are showing the way, and I’m convinced that many others will follow. Together, let’s ensure this collaboration opens new doors and creates new opportunities for all.

Long live Namur, long live Quebec, and long live our friendship without borders!