Tag Archive for: Frankfurt

On Thursday, 17th of June 2021, the German Australian Business Council hosted its first in-person event for 2021 in honour of Ambassador H.E. Philip Green, AO, Ambassador to Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. After a long period of COVID-19 restrictions, the dinner event at the Main Nizza restaurant on the banks of the Main River in Frankfurt was long anticipated by members and guests alike.

H.E. Philip Green used the opportunity to speak about the new bilateral Enhanced Strategic Partnership between Australia and Germany, signed by Foreign Ministers Marise Payne and Heiko Maas on the 10th of June 2021 (see download and link below). The Enhanced Strategic Partnership demonstrates the commitment of Australia and Germany to defend and advance the two countries’ common values and interests and to intensify bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

The Ambassador also spoke about the new Australia-Germany Hydrogen Accord which was announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Chancellor Angela Merkel during the G7 Summit in Cornwall during the previous weekend.

The German Australian Business Council would like to warmly thank H.E Philip Green, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, our sponsor ANZ and our members and friends for their support in making this event such a success.

Enhanced Strategic Partnership between Australia and the Federal Republic of Germany

On 6 February 2020, Craig Davison, CEO, DB Schenker ANZ provided an overview of the AU$1.0b business which has been in operation since 1962 with over 2000 employees. Craig discussed DB Schenker’s transition from a traditional freight forwarder and cargo logistics company to an end-to-end supply chain solutions provider offering value-added services to customers. He also highlighted some of the current key projects in Australia, including the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, BHP South Flank Project in Western Australia, and Belectric Limondale Solar Farm. The presentation was followed by a lively discussion about the future of the freight industry and DB Schenker ANZ’s sustainability initiatives.

We thank GABC Member Adina Frankfurt Neue Oper for the kind hospitality.

On 11 December 2019, the German Australian Business Council concluded the year with a breakfast briefing focusing on our 2019 themes of the Australia- EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and digitalization.

We also had pleasure in welcoming Ms Anna Fedeles, the new Consul-General, Frankfurt, and Trade Commissioner with responsibility for the DACH region and the Netherlands. Anna gave an update on Austrade’s new Digital First strategy, which includes delivery of services digitally and access to wide-ranging data sources and information tools. She also highlighted the key investment priorities between Germany and Australia in sectors such as space, financial services, advanced manufacturing, mobility (as a service), defence, AgTech and energy.

Mr Jason Collins, CEO of fellow ABIE organization European Australian Business Council, then gave an update on the current status of the proposed FTA between the EU and Australia after the latest fifth round of negotiations. Against the context of the US-China trade dispute and Brexit, there is optimism regarding the negotiations as there has been significant investment growth over the years in sectors such as renewable energy and public procurement (particularly in infrastructure and defence) between Australia and the EU.

A lively discussion followed about the potential FTA benefits for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the promotion of stronger research and innovation ties between the EU and Australia through programs such as Horizon EU.

The event concluded with a farewell from the Business Council Board to our Co-Patron Mr Dan Tebbutt, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, Austrade who heads back to Australia in the new year. Dan has been a positive and proactive supporter of the Council and we wish him all the best in his next role.

We thank all members and friends for your support over the year and look forward to seeing everyone in 2020.

On the 26th of September 2019, the German Australian Business Council invited members and friends to a tour through the Siemens Medium Voltage Switchgear factory in Frankfurt. Since 1984, Siemens has built gas-insulated switchgears, which can be used in transformer and distribution systems of power supply companies, as well as in medium-voltage systems which can be found, for example, in the mining industry, wind parks and on offshore platforms and ships. Siemens gas-insulated switchgear technology provides various advantages in respect of climatic independence, personal safety and maintenance-free design.

The tour provided a great insight in a fascinating field of technology which is otherwise usually not accessible to the public. Thanks to the very professional Siemens staff, who managed to explain the highly technological production processes to a largely lay audience, the tour was a fascinating and very informative event for all participants.

We would like to thank all at Siemens who made this event possible and we look forward to the next tour.