German government official praises Upstate business climate, Clemson University support

Published: October 2, 2012

GREENVILLE – A leading German government official celebrated the Upstate’s international business climate and Clemson University’s role in promoting the region’s economy at a Greenville luncheon Tuesday for political and business leaders and Clemson University faculty and students.

Harald Leibrecht, a member of the German Parliament and the German Foreign Office’s Coordinator for Transatlantic Cooperation, called the Upstate region “an impressive example of our strong German-American partnership” and described Greenville as a leading example of close transatlantic business relations.

The luncheon was sponsored by Clemson University in recognition of the key role the university plays in promoting South Carolina’s economic development through education; research and development; and strategic alliances with corporations, local governments and the non-profit sector. 

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

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-private cooperation. “It demonstrates how different companies can join efforts with a university to provide excellent research and education.”

In his role as Coordinator for Transatlantic Cooperation, Leibrecht promotes dialogue between Germany and the United States. Greenville was his 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 German innovation, strengthening small and medium enterprises and providing high-quality vocational education,” he said, noting that local business leaders “were the first to give substance” to the Skills Initiative, a program launched by the German Embassy in Washington to identify and spread best practices in sustainable workforce development in the United States.

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

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

Leibrecht also strongly supported the idea of  “a comprehensive trade and investment agreement” to “establish a true transatlantic marketplace.”  The United States and Europe, he noted, “are each other’s most important markets.

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