LEIPZIG BUSINESS LEADERS VISITING DEVON
Lutz Thielemann, chief executive of Invest Region Leipzig
James Parsons, director of ICC Sprachinstitut
A DELEGATION of business leaders from the German city of Leipzig is to visit Plymouth next week.
The team, which includes tourism and investment experts, will be in the city for the inaugural Plymouth Business Week.
They will also have a stand at Plymouth Business Show, at Plymouth Pavilions next Wednesday, June 17, and want to meet city businesses to forge closer working relationships between the two cities.
The delegation includes Helen Stöhr, international market and business development manager at the regional investment body Invest Region Leipzig; James Parsons, an English-born director of leading language school ICC Sprachinstitut; and Mario Mermuth, from the tourist information provider Inbooma.
“We are hoping our participation at the Plymouth Business Show is the start of a long-term relationship between Plymouth and Leipzig, forging business links with the South West.”
Lutz Thielemann, chief executive of Invest Region Leipzig, said: “Leipzig is the second largest city in Eastern Germany and counts a population of one million people in the whole region.
“Therefore, it is no surprise a high number of companies are concentrated here – 70,000 enterprises, preferably SMEs, produce within the automotive and supplier industry, life sciences, information technology, energy, or machinery equipment branch.”
He said the delegation was invited by Peter Hartland, chief executive of Plymouth and Devon Chamber of Commerce, and is looking forward to the Business Show.
“We are excited about the talks at the show, and invite all companies interested in the Leipzig region to visit us at the show.”
The visit has been arranged by Kevin Kelway of Plymouth’s Dorcas Media with assistance and support from Plymouth and Devon Chamber.
Mr Hartland said: “I’m delighted to welcome this delegation to Plymouth as part of the first Business Week celebrations.
“Encouraging international trade and building positive collaborative relationships is extremely important if we are to continue to build on the growth momentum our economy has seen.
“I’d like to thank Kevin for his work on bringing this opportunity to our attention and enabling the Chamber to assist on creating what we hope will be a hugely beneficial visit for the city and its businesses.
“The EU remains the most important export market for UK businesses, so we are delighted to help facilitate new contacts with the Leipzig delegation and to showcase Plymouth, for inward investment opportunities.”
The group will arrive in Plymouth on June 16, and is due to spend three days meeting businesses and viewing the city. Delegates are due to tour the Enterprise Zone at South Yard, Plymouth Gin distillery and Plymouth Science Park.They will also meet MPs.
It is hoped this will be the first of many collaborations between the two cities and follows a visit by Herald Business to report on business developments in Leipzig a year ago.
Read more: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/German-delegation-forge-links-Plymouth/story-26665825-detail/story.html#ixzz3cgw4cSoW
(Publicity generated by Dorcas Media)