Friday, 15 November 2019, Düsseldorf, NRW, Germany: Premier Armin Laschet received the 40th Governor of the US state of Nebraska, Pete Ricketts, for talks in the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia. Topics included a deepening of economic relations in the fields of agriculture, mechanical engineering and chemicals, an exchange on the current political situation in the USA and on the US presidential election in 2020, as well as on current issues of European policy, in particular the customs debate between the European Union and the USA.
As per statement Premier Laschet said: “Nebraska, as one of the largest agricultural producers in the USA, is an important market for North Rhine-Westphalian companies that have established a strong presence in the state. In agriculture, chemistry and mechanical engineering in particular, there are many opportunities for cooperation with Nebraska. With Governor Ricketts, we welcome a friend of Germany and have convinced transatlanticists to come to North Rhine-Westphalia.
Governor Peter Ricketts: “Germany is a close friend and ally of the USA. I had a pleasant and constructive discussion with Premier Armin Laschet today and am grateful for the warm hospitality. The Federal State of Nebraska is looking forward to further economic cooperation with North Rhine-Westphalia and to deepening our scientific and cultural contacts”.
Governor Ricketts (Republican Party), accompanied by an economic delegation and three cabinet members, is currently visiting Germany, one stop is also North Rhine-Westphalia. Here the governor visits the mechanical engineer Claas in Harsewinkel, Westphalia, Evonik Industries in Essen and the city of Münster to become acquainted to the city of the Peace of Westphalia.
On November 14, 2019, Governor Ricketts had already invited representatives from North Rhine-Westphalia to a reception at the Industrie club Düsseldorf.
Nebraska-NRW relations
In Nebraska, one of the granaries of the USA and also called “The Cornhusker State”, 1.9 million people live on approximately 200,000 square kilometres (North Rhine-Westphalia in comparison: 34,098 square kilometres). More than 90 percent of the land in Nebraska is used for agriculture. The capital is Lincoln. Several North Rhine-Westphalian companies are active in Nebraska, including Claas, Bayer and Evonik Industries. Just last July, Evonik opened its “Vermaris” production site in Nebraska, a joint venture with the Dutch chemicals group DSM.
Around 40 percent of the U.S. population has German ancestors, most of whom emigrated to the Midwest in the 19th century.
For further information:
Government of NRW https://www.land.nrw/de/pressemitteilung/ministerpraesident-laschet-empfaengt-den-gouverneur-des-us-bundesstaates-nebraska
Picture by Land NRW.
