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Interview with Thomas Silberhorn, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Berlin
On 13 January 2016, we spoke with State Secretary Thomas Silberhorn about development cooperation between the Federal Republic of Germany and Senegal, about energy as priority issue, but also about the topics Decentralisation and Food Policy.
2nd part of the interview with the Member of the Bundestag Andreas Lämmel and member of the committee on economic and energy affairs
You speak of a Berlin company with German funding. But there is also the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) with agencies in many African countries and projects in the field of energy. Can attempts be made to also offer such solutions through GIZ? In the end, German subsidies are concerned here .
1st part of the interview with the Member of the Bundestag Andreas Lämmel and member of the committee on economic and energy affairs
Mr. Lämmel, decarbonisation was announced on 8 June 2015. This means that the energy supply must, until 2100, do without coal, natural gas and crude oil. And when this happens, you inevitably open up a big market for renewable energies. What kind of preparation is made in the Bundestag?
Frankfurt, on Friday, 1 May 2015, Labour Day. There is an unusual air of tranquility in the Main metropolis. Bankers and service providers flew home for the weekend. Only few trains have stopped at the Central Station, where normally busy people are in a rush. On such a day the situation is no different at the premises of the blood donor service: Little traffic means very few accidents, and little work in the emergency room. But directly opposite this location, a group of persistent Senegalese met with their Ambassador and discussed about "Cooperation" down to the smallest detail from 10:00 through 18:00 o'clock.
2nd part of the interview with Dr. Reinhold Festge
On 17 March 2015, the "Africa meets Business" Day in Berlin, we talked to Dr. Reinhold Festge, the personally liable shareholder of Haver & Boecker and President of the German Engineering Association VDMA.
The VDMA supports German business in Africa. What can you do to lead Hermes to support the commitment of German medium-sized enterprises in Africa?
Dr. Festge: We at VDMA know that medium-sized enterprises want to get involved in Africa. Many companies are already established in Africa, and many companies are interested in going to Africa. The problem is: The industry wants to enter the market, but politicians say that many African countries have a poor rating. Therefore we will not provide financing, as we fear that the money will then be lost. Meanwhile we have employed great efforts of persuasion vis-à-vis politicians. We told them that we must give enhanced attention to Africa as a Continent. Thereupon the decision was made in Berlin, six weeks ago, that Hermes shall again cover transactions with Africa. But according to the information furnished to us, such cover only refers to projects organized by the government. Hermes says, you can be given coverage, if the order is placed by the government of the country concerned.
1st part of the interview with Dr. Reinhold Festge
On 17 March 2015, the "Africa meets Business" Day in Berlin, we talked to Dr. Reinhold Festge, the personally liable shareholder of Haver & Boecker and President of the German Engineering Association VDMA.
We became interested in your company Haver & Boecker, after we had seen the video film about the 125th Anniversary. A woman said in the film that you produce wires which are thinner than a hair.
Dr. Festge: That is not entirely correct. We indeed process wires which are thinner than a hair. They are half as thin as a hair, which is the thinnest wire producible in the world. It is important that emphasis is placed on wire weaving, as only wires are interwoven by us. We are famous and well known for being able to process very fine wires, and also for producing very fine fabrics.