7/10/2008

Bavaria has vital interest in successful foreign policy

As the Number 1 export state in Germany, Bavaria has a vital interest of its own in pursuing a successful foreign policy. Minister-President Dr. Günther Beckstein stressed this yesterday and also underscored Bavaria’s self-confident role as a player in a globalized world. "One in every two euros in Bavarian industry is earned in world trade. That creates growth, jobs and opportunities in the State. We are therefore consistently developing our foreign relations with the leading global growth regions, including those beyond Europe’s borders. This ensures strong incentives for industry and boosts prosperity", Beckstein underlined at the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Gesellschaft für Außenpolitik (Foreign Affairs Association) in Munich. 
Bavaria cooperates with strong regions, like Quebec, California, Shandong, Guangdong, Karnataka, Bangalore, Sao Paulo and Western Cape Province. In addition, the State also maintains 20 foreign representations and will be opening another one in Israel on January 1, 2009. Beckstein: "Bavaria is already playing in the top international league when it comes to research and technology and intends to join the Top 5 in the near future. We therefore depend very heavily on Bavaria’s good international relations and the influence of German foreign policy. 
In Beckstein’s view, a successful foreign policy involves the skilful interplay of economic, security and development policy. "Foreign policy must also be aimed at free global trade, investment security and patent protection, access to raw materials and sales markets and the supply of energy. For a coordinated foreign energy policy I see even more backlog demand in Germany and Europe", the Minister-President emphasized. Beckstein called on Berlin and Brussels to concentrate on the key issues of German and European interest: "What is lacking is a clear and vigorous voice for Europe, when it is a matter of representing pan-European interests at international level, when it comes to shaping globalization and the international financial markets to bring them into line with our values for the social market economy." He added that Europe had to seize the opportunity offered by the legitimacy crisis, which has emerged as a result of Ireland’s No to the Reform Treaty.

Source: Invest in Bavaria

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