Thursday, 22 June 2023, Düsseldorf, NRW, Germany: The state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the United States of America are linked by a history of around 340 years. With no other region outside Europe does North Rhine-Westphalia maintain comparable relations in politics, business, science, culture and society as with the USA. The state government would like to pay special tribute to this relationship and has proclaimed 2023/2024 the NRW-USA Year under the motto “A Perfect Match”.
The official starting signal for a NRW-USA Year with diverse events, festive receptions, concerts, cinema evenings and exhibitions was given on 22 June with a kick-off event on the occasion of the 247th Independence Day of the United States of America. The two hosts, U.S. Consul General Pauline Kao and Premier of NRW Hendrik Wüst, together with US Ambassador Dr Amy Gutmann and Minister of International Affairs Nathanael Liminski, will be inviting guests to the Ständehaus K21 to mark the occasion.
Premier Hendrik Wüst said as per statement linked below: “North Rhine-Westphalia and the USA are linked by a deep and long-standing friendship. Today, our relations are more lively than ever. Things simply fit between us – and this will be celebrated in the NRW-USA Year. At the same time, we want to further raise our profile as an innovative and dynamic business location this year and work together on sustainable solutions, especially with a view to transforming our economy towards climate neutrality.”
Dr Amy Gutmann, US Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany: “When President Kennedy came to Bonn in 1963, he said words of great significance: he called Bonn the capital and centre of the free world.
For our renewed German-American partnership after the war was born here on the Rhine and Ruhr. Former enemies became loyal friends who shared common values and interests. So the official partnership between North Rhine-Westphalia and my home state of Pennsylvania fills me with particularly great joy.”
With more than 1,700 companies, the USA is one of the country’s most important foreign trade partners and one of the largest foreign investors in North Rhine-Westphalia. There are 33 city partnerships, 98 school partnerships and 290 university partnerships, all of which ensure a vital and intergenerational exchange of people on both sides of the Atlantic.
Nathanael Liminski, Minister of Federal, European and International and Media Affairs: “At the latest since Russia’s attack on Ukraine, everyone should be aware of the value of our transatlantic friendship. The NRW-USA Year offers the opportunity to further expand our economic and value partnership. We want to build a stage for the people and associations that bring the transatlantic partnership to life every day.”
Pauline Kao, US Consul General for North Rhine-Westphalia: “US-NRW relations are already so multi-faceted. American players are at home in North Rhine-Westphalia’s professional sports clubs, students from North Rhine-Westphalia deliver top performances at American universities and city partnerships such as the one between Münster and Fresno have great appeal. On this foundation, we want to lead our relations into the future together. The NRW-USA Year is for everyone! Join in, share your story, let’s create a legacy together.”
For further information
Government of NRW: https://www.land.nrw/pressemitteilung/perfect-match-ministerpraesident-wuest-und-us-generalkonsulin-kao-geben
U.S. Consulate General in NRW: https://de.usembassy.gov/consul-general-dusseldorf/
