Friday, 19 January, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany: The United Kingdom’s Deputy Ambassador Kieran Drake made his inaugural visit to Stuttgart, capital of the southwestern German federal state of Baden-Württemberg.
Top diplomat Kieran Drake was received by the Head of the State Chancellery, State Minister Dr. Florian Stegmann at the State Chancellery’s premises. The two dignitaries discussed opportunities for further strengthening the relationship between the UK and Baden-Württemberg building on the existing strong ties: Baden-Württemberg represents 13 percent of all German investment into the UK, with over 400 companies who employ 109,000 people. There are 149 UK companies invested in Baden-Württemberg, employing 28,000 people; in 2021 the UK and Baden-Württemberg signed an Economic Partnership followed by the opening of a Baden- Württemberg representation office in London, and the signing of a Joint Declaration between Baden- Württemberg and the devolved Welsh Government in November last year.
Mr Drake also visited the headquarters of the Stuttgart Police to discuss their preparations for hosting the UEFA Euro 2024 Mens Football Tournament, including a match between Scotland and Hungary to take place on 23 June 2024. The UK estimates over 500,000 fans will travel to Germany this summer for the tournament and the British Embassy is working closely with German partners to prepare for the occurance.
Deputy Ambassador Drake was accompanied during his visit by the British Honorary Consul in Stuttgart, Dr. Fritz Oesterle.
Kieran Drake has been serving as Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Germany since August 2021. Kieran joined the UK Civil Service in 2005 and has held senior roles in a range of Government Departments including the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, and the Department for Exiting the European Union. He holds a MA (Hons) in Geography from Cambridge University.
The Deputy Head of Mission is a senior diplomat and typically a key advisor to the Ambassador or High Commissioner. They represent the UK’s interests in the absence of the Ambassador in the capacity as Chargé d’affaires.
For further information
British Embassy in Germany: https://www.gov.uk/government/people/kieran-drake
State Chancellery of Baden-Württemberg: https://stm.baden-wuerttemberg.de/de/ministerium/staatsminister-und-chef-der-staatskanzlei/
Representation of Baden-Württemberg in the UK: https://bwuk-office.de/en/
