PrintNews from the Land of Ideas
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| FIFA President Joseph Blatter (second from left) visiting the Soccerex 2007 in Johannesburg, South Africa. |
2007/11/27
Soccerex 2007 South Africa: Southern African – German Chamber of Commerce & Industry and ‘Germany – Land of Ideas’ host ‘German Pavilion’
Johannesburg, South Africa, 25-28 November2007 – The Southern African – German Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the “Germany - Land of Ideas“ initiative are presenting German technology, products and services in the domain of soccer and sports events at the world’s largest soccer related trade fair in Johannesburg.
Until the kick-off of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa the Soccerex has been moved from Dubai to Johannesburg. In these three years German companies and institutions have the opportunity to present themselves in South Africa under the umbrella of the “German Pavilion”.
This is the first joint-venture of the two institutions since the Chamber became the official representative of “Germany-Land of Ideas” in South Africa. In future both will work in a strategic partnership, to promote the strengths of Germany as science and business hub to South African business. At the same time the trade fair is the launch of an intensification and deepening of the dialogue between South Africa and Germany in the fields of science and business – in part to allow South Africa to profit from the experience and knowledge gained during the 2006 World Cup.
According to Mike de Vries, CEO of “Germany –Land of Ideas”, the decision to appoint the Chamber as official representative of his organisation is a timely one, as South Africa is an important and valued partner of Germany in all aspects of business and politics as highlighted by the recent state visit of Dr Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The “Germany –Land of Ideas”-initiative is very pleased that it was possible to win the SA-German Chamber and its CEO, Matthias Boddenberg, as official representative of the “Germany – Land of Ideas” initiative. With its reputation for excellence and experience the Chamber is exceedingly well placed to successfully further our aim of promoting the business location Germany,” states de Vries. Matthias Boddenberg, of the SA-German Chamber adds that he was extremely pleased to accept the representation on behalf of the Chamber, “the Soccerex 2007 is an outstanding opportunity for our organisations to intensify our already strong ties. We are very pleased to showcase German excellence to the world of soccer at this auspicious event. We believe we have created a very interesting programme to attract delegates and exhibitors alike.”
The ‘German Pavilion’ presents a number of exciting panel discussions during the course of Soccerex. The topics of the panels range from the effects of hosting the World Cup on the national league to the branding implications of soccer sponsorship and the nature and effects of Corporate Social Responsibility projects in the area of soccer. A panel discussing the effect of hosting the World Cup on the national image will be attended by the newly appointed Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to South Africa, H.E. Dieter W. Haller and will be chaired by the President of the SA-German Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Leo Röhrig. Among the other panelists are Alexander Koch of FIFA Marketing,
Nikolaus Eberl, author of “Brandovation – How Germany won the World Cup of Internal Branding”, Günter Pfau of adidas, Sej Motau of DaimlerChrysler, Fiona Hall of Merck SA and many others.
The exhibitors at the ‘German Pavilion’ offer an intriguing mix of technology solutions, stadia construction materials and expertise as well as top-class marketing and branding services. Among the well-known names represented at the pavilion are African Goalkeeper Academy 2010, gordion group, K.I.T. group, Polytan, RoboCup, Siemens, Urban116 and XL Video.
About “Germany - Land of Ideas”
“Germany – Land of Ideas“ is a joint nation-branding initiative of the Federal Government and German industry, represented by the Federation of German Industry (BDI). The aim of the initiative is to portray Germany, at home and abroad, as an innovative, cosmopolitan and enthusiastic country. The patron of the initiative is the German President Horst Köhler. The “Germany – Land of Ideas” initiative is funded by the “Deutschland – Land der Ideen e.V.” society. It realises various core projects: the event programme – “365 Landmarks in the Land of Ideas”, international media service and the FanClub. In collaboration with the federal location marketing agency, the initiative also realises - supported by the Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology - the campaign “Invest in Germany – Land of Ideas” to promote Germany as a business location.
About the “Southern African - German Chamber of Commerce & Industry”
- Your experienced partner for bilateral business relations -
For more than fifty years, the „Southern African – German Chamber of Commerce and Industry” has been facilitating the establishment of business links between Southern Africa and Germany by supplying information on the economic situation in both countries, bringing together potential trade partners, and offering a wide range of other essential services.
Your contact person: Petra Ernst-Gutierrez, Delegations & Publications Manager
Southern African - German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
P O Box 87078, Houghton, 2041
T: +27 (0)11 486-2775
F: +27 (0)11 486-3625/75
Mail: pegutierrez@germanchamber.co.za
Web: www.germanchamber.co.za
This is the first joint-venture of the two institutions since the Chamber became the official representative of “Germany-Land of Ideas” in South Africa. In future both will work in a strategic partnership, to promote the strengths of Germany as science and business hub to South African business. At the same time the trade fair is the launch of an intensification and deepening of the dialogue between South Africa and Germany in the fields of science and business – in part to allow South Africa to profit from the experience and knowledge gained during the 2006 World Cup.
According to Mike de Vries, CEO of “Germany –Land of Ideas”, the decision to appoint the Chamber as official representative of his organisation is a timely one, as South Africa is an important and valued partner of Germany in all aspects of business and politics as highlighted by the recent state visit of Dr Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The “Germany –Land of Ideas”-initiative is very pleased that it was possible to win the SA-German Chamber and its CEO, Matthias Boddenberg, as official representative of the “Germany – Land of Ideas” initiative. With its reputation for excellence and experience the Chamber is exceedingly well placed to successfully further our aim of promoting the business location Germany,” states de Vries. Matthias Boddenberg, of the SA-German Chamber adds that he was extremely pleased to accept the representation on behalf of the Chamber, “the Soccerex 2007 is an outstanding opportunity for our organisations to intensify our already strong ties. We are very pleased to showcase German excellence to the world of soccer at this auspicious event. We believe we have created a very interesting programme to attract delegates and exhibitors alike.”
The ‘German Pavilion’ presents a number of exciting panel discussions during the course of Soccerex. The topics of the panels range from the effects of hosting the World Cup on the national league to the branding implications of soccer sponsorship and the nature and effects of Corporate Social Responsibility projects in the area of soccer. A panel discussing the effect of hosting the World Cup on the national image will be attended by the newly appointed Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to South Africa, H.E. Dieter W. Haller and will be chaired by the President of the SA-German Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Leo Röhrig. Among the other panelists are Alexander Koch of FIFA Marketing,
Nikolaus Eberl, author of “Brandovation – How Germany won the World Cup of Internal Branding”, Günter Pfau of adidas, Sej Motau of DaimlerChrysler, Fiona Hall of Merck SA and many others.
The exhibitors at the ‘German Pavilion’ offer an intriguing mix of technology solutions, stadia construction materials and expertise as well as top-class marketing and branding services. Among the well-known names represented at the pavilion are African Goalkeeper Academy 2010, gordion group, K.I.T. group, Polytan, RoboCup, Siemens, Urban116 and XL Video.
About “Germany - Land of Ideas”
“Germany – Land of Ideas“ is a joint nation-branding initiative of the Federal Government and German industry, represented by the Federation of German Industry (BDI). The aim of the initiative is to portray Germany, at home and abroad, as an innovative, cosmopolitan and enthusiastic country. The patron of the initiative is the German President Horst Köhler. The “Germany – Land of Ideas” initiative is funded by the “Deutschland – Land der Ideen e.V.” society. It realises various core projects: the event programme – “365 Landmarks in the Land of Ideas”, international media service and the FanClub. In collaboration with the federal location marketing agency, the initiative also realises - supported by the Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology - the campaign “Invest in Germany – Land of Ideas” to promote Germany as a business location.
About the “Southern African - German Chamber of Commerce & Industry”
- Your experienced partner for bilateral business relations -
For more than fifty years, the „Southern African – German Chamber of Commerce and Industry” has been facilitating the establishment of business links between Southern Africa and Germany by supplying information on the economic situation in both countries, bringing together potential trade partners, and offering a wide range of other essential services.
Your contact person: Petra Ernst-Gutierrez, Delegations & Publications Manager
Southern African - German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
P O Box 87078, Houghton, 2041
T: +27 (0)11 486-2775
F: +27 (0)11 486-3625/75
Mail: pegutierrez@germanchamber.co.za
Web: www.germanchamber.co.za
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