SADC Ambassadors Meet to Discuss Investment Opportunities in Germany
The Ambassadors of the SADC Met to Discuss Investment Opportunities in Germany
July 28th, 2015The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ambassador’s Group in Berlin visited the “Märkischer Kreis” in North Rheine-Westphalia at the invitation of the Bundestag SADC Parliamentary Group Chairman, Dagmar Freitag MdB.
The SADC is an inter-governmental organization that is made up of 15 southern African nations including South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe amongst other countries. It works alongside the African Union to promote development and cooperation in Africa and in particular within the Southern African region. In 2014 Germany invested €300 million into the development of the SADC.
The group visited the city of Iserlohn, which is a significant location for small and medium sized companies and where the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences is based. This University focuses mainly on engineering, natural sciences, information and communication technology, business administration and agricultural economics. The “dual learning” model is in place here also enabling students to be equipped with both the basic education and skills necessary for their career by combining academic and professional practice. This program is intended to allow a quicker absorption into the job market upon completion of their studies.
A roundtable discussion was organized with the Regional Association of Employers (the Märkischer Arbeitgeberverband – MAV) which consists of roughly 460 of the largest firms in the region, firms that are mostly involved with the metal, automotive and electrical component industries, although firms from other industries such as the food and service industries are also included in the organization.
The group also visited the city of Menden, BEGA, Thiele GmbH as well as the Vocational Training Centre of the South Westphalian chamber of Industry and Commerce (Lehrwerkstatt der Südwestfällischen Industrie- und Handelskammer – LSIH).
References and Links
Rhys Millin, Berlin Global