On August 29, 2024, our Regional Chapter North Rhine-Westphalia hosted its annual Summer Barbecue in Meerbusch. Opening the evening, Chapter Chair Theresa Winkels emphasized the significance of the transatlantic business community in North Rhine-Westphalia - where more than 1,700 U.S. companies are located - and also introduced Christin Schack, Vice President & Managing Director Central Europe Region (A-BE-CH-D-NL), 3M Deutschland GmbH, as new Chapter Co-Chair.
As Christin Schack points out: "In my first few weeks in this role, it has been very energizing to meet so many like-minded people who share our mutual mission to foster transatlantic business collaboration and partnership. But maybe even more important these days: Like-minded people are essential in order to support our democracy and stand up for our values. We all play an important role here, and an organization such as AmCham Germany and the network it offers is crucial to this. At 3M, we are an internationally operating company, which is why transparent and unrestricted trade matter to us. Moreover, a diverse and inclusive workforce and business environment are critical for us to keep innovating and thereby answer the biggest challenges of today’s world.”
In the ensuing remarks, AmCham Germany President Simone Menne underscored the essential value of overcoming current challenges together. Menne encouraged everyone to take initiative and strengthen the transatlantic relationship together.
As President Simone Menne highlights: "Our Summer Barbecue in Meerbusch has become an AmCham Germany tradition. Not only do we have the opportunity to come together and network with our members; we are also able to discuss ways to foster open trade and further investment between the United States, Germany and Europe. In this regard, North Rhine-Westphalia plays a pivotal role, with the region’s numerous research institutions, universities and start-ups making it an attractive and innovative destination for American businesses."
In keeping with the American theme of the evening, attendees were treated to a performance by the Rhein Fire Football Cheerleader Team following the speeches.
We would like to extend our gratitude to our speakers, guests and and especially our sponsors, without whom this event would not have been possible: Gold Sponsors ISR International School on the Rhine GmbH, Johnson & Johnson and UPS; Silver Sponsors BNP Paribas, The Office of Economic Development Düsseldorf; and 3M as our Event Supporter.
Significance of the transatlantic business community for North Rhine-Westphalia
