German government official praises Upstate business climate, Clemson University support

GREENVILLE, SC – October 2, 2012 – A leading German government official celebrated theUpstate’s international business climate and Clemson University’s rolein promoting the region’s economy at a Greenville luncheon Tuesday forpolitical and business leaders and Clemson University faculty andstudents.

Harald Leibrecht, a member of the German Parliament and the GermanForeign Office’s Coordinator for Transatlantic Cooperation, called theUpstate region “an impressive example of our strong German-Americanpartnership” and described Greenville as a leading example of closetransatlantic business relations.

The luncheon was sponsored by Clemson University in recognition ofthe key role the university plays in promoting South Carolina’s economicdevelopment through education; research and development; and strategicalliances with corporations, local governments and the non-profitsector. 

The event was hosted by David Wilkins, chairman of Clemson’s board oftrustees and former speaker of the S.C. House and U.S. ambassador toCanada.

Leibrecht, who met with students and presented a public lecture on the Clemson University campus Monday, also praised the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) as “one of the most inspiring examples” of public-privatecooperation. “It demonstrates how different companies can join effortswith a university to provide excellent research and education.”

In his role as Coordinator for Transatlantic Cooperation, Leibrechtpromotes dialogue between Germany and the United States. Greenville washis first stop on a tour of the Southeast United States.

“Being a businessman myself, I particularly want to strengthen business partnerships,” Leibrecht said.

Leibrecht noted German interest in the U.S. debate about strengthening manufacturing. 

“We welcome the interest U.S. stakeholders are taking in Germaninnovation, strengthening small and medium enterprises and providinghigh-quality vocational education,” he said, noting that local businessleaders “were the first to give substance” to the Skills Initiative, aprogram launched by the German Embassy in Washington to identify andspread best practices in sustainable workforce development in the UnitedStates.

Strong workforce skills are a “decisive factor” in investmentdecisions, Leibrecht said, adding that Germany is pleased that theUnited States government has “commended the cooperation of Siemens andother German companies with community colleges and local authorities.”

Turning to broader themes, Leibrecht expressed assurances that “theGerman Government is committed to a Europe that tackles the rootproblems of debt, deficits, anemic growth and economic divergence,”adding that “there is no miraculous solution – no big bazooka – to solveevery problem at once, but I am confident that we are now on the rightpath towards resolving this crisis.”

Leibrecht also strongly supported the idea of  “a comprehensive tradeand investment agreement” to “establish a true transatlanticmarketplace.”  The United States and Europe, he noted, “are each other’smost important markets.