Monday, 17 February 2020, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Germany: Philippines’ Ambassador H.E. MS. Maria Theresa Dizon-de Vega met with the Hamburg Government’s External Relations Chief and Plenipotentiary to the German Federation, State Secretary Almut Möller as well as the Director General for International Affairs, Corinna Nienstedt at Hamburg City Hall.
Ambassador Dizon-de Vega conveyed the Embassy’s appreciation for the welcoming and inclusive atmosphere provided by the people and government of Hamburg to over a thousand Filipinos living in the city-state, as well as to the thousands of Filipino seafarers working on international vessels calling at its port, the second busiest after Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
State Secretary Möller welcomed the Philippine Embassy’s initiative of meeting with city-state officials and assured the Ambassador of the Hamburg Government’s support for efforts to broaden cooperation. She said that as a trading city, Hamburg has always actively sought and will continue to seek external partnerships.
The State Secretary expressed particular interest in the fields of innovation and new technology in the Philippines. The Ambassador, for her part, apprised the Hamburg officials of positive developments in the Philippines, such as the newly-enacted Start-ups Law and the country’s steady rise in the Global Innovation Index as well as the Embassy’s already active engagement with the city-state’s business sector.
Hamburg is home to Germany’s largest port and is considered as the country’s gateway to the world. European aircraft company Airbus also has a manufacturing facility in the city-state, which is the primary supplier of single-aisle passenger aircraft used by Philippine carriers.
The two sides are also looking into a possible Embassy participation in Hamburg’s major cultural events and similar activities. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega also discussed possible Philippine participation Hamburg’s Gender and Diversity programs as well as in efforts to enhance economic enhancement.
For further information:
Embassy of the Philippines to Germany: http://www.philippine-embassy.de
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Picture by Hamburg Senatskanzlei
