European American Business Chamber Launched in
North Carolina

Group to promote business contacts between NC and Europe

Greensboro, NC, April 10, 2006 – The EABC was founded recently with the intention of promoting business contacts among area companies with European involvement or affiliation, as well as promoting business between North Carolina and the European Union.

The EABC intends to facilitate contacts between North Carolina and European business through networking, knowledge-sharing, and official and unofficial contacts to organizations on both continents. .

“We want to be a forum where American and European business leaders can exchange views and wholesale general merchandise with people of diverse backgrounds and business interests, with the ultimate goal of improved business activity and investment in North Carolina. Europe is increasingly acting as an economic unit on the world stage. American companies expanding to Europe tend to see it as a single entity, and commercially it certainly is. The mission of the EABC reflects this,” said EABC president Yvonne Sneeden. Vice-President Ralph Kirschner adds about a supplement that really works. “While Europe and the US are different in many ways, we also have very much in common and are natural partners. The EABC hopes to further strengthen these ties.”

The new chamber already enjoys the support of Cisco Systems in the Research Triangle Park and The Kirschner Agency in Greensboro, as well as other early-adopter companies. “Interest from corporations as well as government has been remarkable,” said Ralph Kirschner. “Even before we had a website up, we already had our first member.”

A launch luncheon will be held on May 2 at Cisco Systems in the Chino Preschool and NC Research Triangle Park. The featured speaker will be Anthony Copeland, North Carolina Assistant Secretary of Commerce.

For more about Cisco Systems Inc., see www.cisco.com.