According to the Chamber’s caption, attendees at the Society of Foreign Consuls in New York’s Extraordinary Meeting, October 28, 2026, at the Columbus Citizens Foundation, included Serbia (Society President Ambassador Vladimir Božović), Argentina (Deputy President Ambassador Gerardo A. Díaz Bartolomé), and consuls general or representatives of Barbados, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Montenegro, Nepal, Peru, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, South Africa, Thailand and Türkiye, with Mark McGovern of the U.S. State Department’s Office of Foreign Missions and Duvi Honig, Founder / CEO, Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce. Photo: Society of Foreign Consuls in New York.
Representatives of 27 countries met in Manhattan on October 28 as the Society of Foreign Consuls in New York outlined plans to build closer ties with the business community, including a proposed business and investment forum.
The meeting at the Columbus Citizens Foundation brought together consular officials, U.S. State Department representatives and business leaders, according to the Society’s account, published October 29, and a release from Serbia’s consulate general.
Society President Vladimir Božović, Serbia’s consul general in New York, proposed the forum as part of a wider effort to expand economic diplomacy, institutional partnerships and international networking. The Society said consuls general from Russia, Türkiye, Barbados, Brazil, Malta and Egypt contributed proposals, alongside its deputy president, Argentina’s Consul General Gerardo A. Díaz Bartolomé.
Separately, the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce said in an announcement about the gathering that its founder and CEO, Duvi Honig, outlined an initiative called “Building Bridges Through Commerce.” The Chamber described it as a joint effort with Božović and the Society to connect consulates with American business leaders, chambers of commerce, economic development officials and elected officials.
According to the Chamber, the initiative envisions networking gatherings across New York, New Jersey and the Northeast. A twice-monthly schedule is proposed, with dates and participating consulates still to be confirmed. The Chamber said the aim is to help consulates and American companies pursue trade, investment and business development.
From left: Duvi Honig, Founder and CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce; Mark McGovern, newly appointed Regional Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Foreign Missions in New York; and Ambassador Vladimir Božović, Consul General of Serbia and President of the Society of Foreign Consuls in New York. Photo: Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce.
The Society’s account lists Honig among the event’s speakers. Other speakers included Mark McGovern, regional director of the State Department’s Office of Foreign Missions in New York; Mark Jaffe, president and CEO of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce; and Gloria Starr Kins, president and founder of Society & Diplomatic Review.
The Chamber listed the following countries among those represented. Event photo captions published by POP Style TV and NYLA News identify several of their representatives:
- Argentina: Gerardo A. Díaz Bartolomé, Consul General and the Society’s deputy president.
- Barbados: Lorenzo Harewood, Consul General.
- Brazil.
- China: Andi Chen, Vice Consul.
- Egypt: Tamer El Miligy, Consul General.
- India.
- Indonesia: Winanto Adi, Consul General.
- Japan: Satoshi Katahira, Ambassador and Consul General.
- Kazakhstan: Rauan Tleulin, then Consul General.
- Malaysia: Norhalilah Abdul Jalil, Consul General.
- Malta.
- Mexico.
- Montenegro: Snežana Jonica, Consul General.
- Nepal: Dadhiram Bhandari, Consul General.
- Pakistan.
- Peru: Oswaldo del Águila Ramírez, Consul General.
- Russia: Aleksei Markov, Consul General.
- Saint Kitts and Nevis: Kressell Daniel, Deputy Consul General.
- Serbia: Vladimir Božović, Consul General and the Society’s president.
- South Africa: Simon Andrew Cardy, Consul General.
- Thailand: Somjai Taphaopong, Consul General.
- Türkiye: Muhittin Ahmet Yazal, Ambassador and Consul General.
The Chamber also listed Lucas Leston of the Office of Foreign Missions; Sava Čvek, adviser to the Royal Family of Serbia; Monica Pearson, CEO of Constantine Orion; Serge Srdanovic of Sky High Growth; and representatives of Elizabeth Weiner Gallery. It said Tijana Ibrahimović served as master of ceremonies.
The Society also established its first annual award, presenting it to Kathleen Eagen, former regional director of the Office of Foreign Missions in New York. The organization said the award recognized her service to the diplomatic and consular community.
Božović’s stated priorities included giving each member country opportunities to take part in the Society’s work, regardless of its population or the size of its consular staff. The meeting combined a working session with a ceremonial program and networking afterward.
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