Tuesday, 14 February 2023, Erfurt, Free State of Bavaria: Dutch top envoy in Germany, Ambassador Ronald van Roeden was received by the Premier of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow, for a bilateral exchange that included the ambassador signing the federal state’s golden guestbook.
The Dutch constitute the largest group of non-German tourists in Thuringia. The Netherlands is the second-largest international exporter to Thuringia, and the third-largest importer from Thuringia, so economic ties are booming.
Within the private sector Ambassador van Roeden met with OptoNet e.V. in Jena, the umbrella organization that encomprisses some 100 photonics companies in Thuringia. This cluster already holds very close business ties with PhotonDelta, Optics Netherlands and PhotonicsNL.
Ambassador van Roeden subsequently visited JENOPTIK in Jena. Jenoptik is a world leader in various photonic technologies for the semiconductor, healthcare and mobility industries. The company is a key partner of ASML and is experiencing impressive growth. JENOPTIK’s CEO Dr. Stefan Traeger discussed the various challenges his company faces as well as the industry as a whole, including geopolitical developments, the strong growth of the high tech sector in Thuringia or the challenge of finding enough qualified employees.
For further information
Government of Thuringia: https://www.staatskanzlei-thueringen.de/medienservice/veranstaltungsberichte/detailseite/ministerpraesident-bodo-ramelow-66
