English articles
Frankfurt, on Friday, 1 May 2015, Labour Day. There is an unusual air of tranquility in the Main metropolis. Bankers and service providers flew home for the weekend. Only few trains have stopped at the Central Station, where normally busy people are in a rush. On such a day the situation is no different at the premises of the blood donor service: Little traffic means very few accidents, and little work in the emergency room. But directly opposite this location, a group of persistent Senegalese met with their Ambassador and discussed about "Cooperation" down to the smallest detail from 10:00 through 18:00 o'clock.
2nd part of the interview with Dr. Reinhold Festge
On 17 March 2015, the "Africa meets Business" Day in Berlin, we talked to Dr. Reinhold Festge, the personally liable shareholder of Haver & Boecker and President of the German Engineering Association VDMA.
The VDMA supports German business in Africa. What can you do to lead Hermes to support the commitment of German medium-sized enterprises in Africa?
Dr. Festge: We at VDMA know that medium-sized enterprises want to get involved in Africa. Many companies are already established in Africa, and many companies are interested in going to Africa. The problem is: The industry wants to enter the market, but politicians say that many African countries have a poor rating. Therefore we will not provide financing, as we fear that the money will then be lost. Meanwhile we have employed great efforts of persuasion vis-à-vis politicians. We told them that we must give enhanced attention to Africa as a Continent. Thereupon the decision was made in Berlin, six weeks ago, that Hermes shall again cover transactions with Africa. But according to the information furnished to us, such cover only refers to projects organized by the government. Hermes says, you can be given coverage, if the order is placed by the government of the country concerned.
1st part of the interview with Dr. Reinhold Festge
On 17 March 2015, the "Africa meets Business" Day in Berlin, we talked to Dr. Reinhold Festge, the personally liable shareholder of Haver & Boecker and President of the German Engineering Association VDMA.
We became interested in your company Haver & Boecker, after we had seen the video film about the 125th Anniversary. A woman said in the film that you produce wires which are thinner than a hair.
Dr. Festge: That is not entirely correct. We indeed process wires which are thinner than a hair. They are half as thin as a hair, which is the thinnest wire producible in the world. It is important that emphasis is placed on wire weaving, as only wires are interwoven by us. We are famous and well known for being able to process very fine wires, and also for producing very fine fabrics.
Interview with Friedbert Klefenz, Chairman of the Divisional Board of Bosch Packaging Technology
"We intend to undertake a larger study for West Africa in the first or the second calendar quarter 2015, in order to look more closely at the market potentials."
Friedbert Klefenz, Chairman of the Divisional Board of Bosch Packaging Technology
Mr. Klefenz, you acted as President of the Interpack 2014 trade fair and held an impulse lecture at the Save Food Conference. What I detect at each Interpack trade fair is how fast the packaging industry continues to develop. How many employees are active in the research and development of packaging machines at Bosch Packaging?
Klefenz: The exact figure cannot be indicated, as the boundaries between research, development and construction often overlap. The fact is: We currently employ a total global workforce of around 7.000 people working in different areas and functions. Around 40% of our people work in the field of technical project implementation, respectively in construction and development. Since we only rarely offer ready-made plants, but mostly particular customer-specific solutions, our design engineers are often simultaneously also our developers.
2nd German-Senegalese Economic Summit successfully completed
What do Energy Mix and Food Processing have in common?
The puzzle has been solved at the 2nd German-Senegalese Economic Summit.
On 7 November 2014 more than 20 Senegalese Managers again came to attend the 2nd German-Senegalese Economic Summit in Düsseldorf. The delegation was led by Ms. Maïmouna Ndoye Seck, Minister for Energy and Development of Renewable Energies.
Capacity audience at the Düsseldorf Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 7 November 2014 © SenGermany.
German and Senegalese experts debated all day long on approaches to solutions offered by the energy mix through the example of the German experience gained in the food processing branch, and on which requirements are to be placed upon the energy mix, so as to enable the agricultural sector in Senegal and its entire production chain to guarantee food security without malfunctions and in a sustainable fashion in a country having only little energy resources.
Christian Traumann, CFO MULTIVAC: “The challence over the next few decades is to make sure that Added Value is generated in Africa and nowhere else.”
The preparation for the 2nd German-Senegalese Economic Summit is in full swing.
On 30 July 2014 we visited - accompanied by a camera team - the company Multivac, the worldwide market leader in the production of packaging machines for foodstuffs, and we had an interview with the Managing Director Christian Traumann.