Consul General

American Chamber of Commerce Thanksgiving Dinner Remarks
Generalkonsul Eric Nelson

München, 23. November 2006
Es gilt das gesprochene Wort

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen:

In 1620, the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth Rock, instead of further south as planned, mostly because they ran out of – beer.  An historical fact that Bavarians can relate very well to.

This concludes the breaking news for today.

Ladies and gentlemen, on this Thanksgiving Day we will, of course, talk turkey.

So here are the business news:
The United States is Germany’s second largest trading partner, and Germany is America’s fifth largest trading partner. Two-way trade exceeds $100 billion a year. 

The relations between our countries also encompass a liberal foreign investment policy. The amount of German foreign direct investment in our country is impressive.  At nearly $200 billion, it makes Germany America’s 4th largest investor.

The demand for U.S. goods and services in this country has been vigorous. U.S. exports to Germany have grown and equally U.S. business interest in the country continues to rise as American companies travel to Germany in search of markets for their products and partners for their joint venture projects.

I have personally witnessed the interest in doing business in the state of Bavaria.  Since assuming my position in late August of 2006, I have visited three of Bavaria’s, if not Germany’s, biggest trade conventions.  I have met with American exhibitors at RenExpo in Augsburg and at IKK in Nuremberg.  Most recently, I toured the USA pavilion and met with American companies at electronica 2006 at Messe München where over 170 American companies exhibited. 

The continued feedback we have received from American companies exhibiting their products at trade fairs around Germany has been absolutely positive.  All of them know what indispensable platforms the exhibitions and trade fairs are for their products not just in selling to the German market but also in selling to the world.  

The continued interest of U.S. companies in the vibrant Bavarian market is impressive. The U.S. constitutes the biggest investor in Bavaria.  Microsoft, Intel, Hewlett Packard, General Electric – these are just a few of American companies that have established German or European headquarters in Bavaria.  The list reads like a who’s who of U.S. industry.

Foreign trade is the driving force behind the Bavarian economy, and the U.S. is by far Bavaria’s major export destination and the state’s most important trading partner.  In 2003, Bavaria provided 1.2% of U.S. total imports, a percentage higher than that of 19 of the EU’s member countries.

Have I lost you?

Time for a commercial break: 
Earlier this year Ambassador Timken thanked AmCham members for their support of a new Eastern German exchange initiative.  Over 50 teachers from the new federal states have visited the United States as a direct result of the sponsorship of AmCham members of this initiative.

The Ambassador said: “I have met with participants in this program and am convinced of the multiplier effects of the exchange initiative. You are helping us to build bridges to the future.”

I can only echo the ambassador’s words.  We need all of you as our most important partners.  We want to enlist you – you, the private sector - to develop new partnerships in exchange initiatives. 

The fifty teachers were only the first round. Let’s go for a second helping!

Next commercial:
Another excellent example of a public-private initiative is our “Windows on America” program.  Our goal with this program is to educate the next generation of Germans about the U.S. and address misperceptions that may exist.  After all, young people are the future of our partnership.  With the support of you - American and German companies - young men and women have the opportunity to experience first-hand school and family life in the U.S. 

We think it is important to provide educational and exchange opportunities to a broader and more diverse segment of young people, including minorities and those from less financially advantaged backgrounds.

What’s in it for me? will be your first thought as a businessman or -woman.

The answer is: It makes good business sense.  Developing multiple points of positive connection between people is a sure strategy to ensuring that partners not lose sight of common goals, especially in times like these of unprecedented global challenges like poverty and the environment.

Business must engage. 

Next commercial:
Last year Merrill Lynch committed $7.5 million to a partnership to cultivate young ambassadors and enhance how young people learn about other countries, world affairs and economics.  The funds will be used to expand the Global Classrooms program to public high schools and middle schools around the world enabling students to learn more about international security, development, human rights and environmental protection.  Merrill Lynch volunteers worldwide will bring a personal touch to the program, as curriculum reviewers, mentors, coaches for students and teachers, and competition judges.

Have I whetted your appetite?
I am here today to recruit you as our partners for one or for all of the projects. 
You all are business ambassadors.
You all practice corporate diplomacy.
You all have best practices ideas. 

Gobble them!

Appetite comes with eating, so I am looking forward to hear more from you after dinner.

This concludes the commercial break.

Next on air is the traffic report:
Thanksgiving is the busiest travel time of the year in the U.S. They say that people travel thousands of miles to see people that they only see once a year.  After Thanksgiving they know that even once a year is way too often. 

Turkeys also travel.  In fact, they travel with a speed of amazing 55 miles per hour.  That is more than the allowed speed limit in many states. 

Still, each year 265 million don’t reach their destination but experience a bumpy landing on a dinner table. 

To conclude the news program, here is today’s weather report: 
The temperature of turkeys has gradually increased over the day.
Humidity in the kitchen has risen considerably. 
Small tempests due to kitchen disasters are possible. 
Later in the evening high pressure will dominate your waist belt which will diminish slowly only by the following weekend.

Now let’s proceed to the turkey business at hand. 

Thank you and enjoy the meal.