13 September 2013, Berlin –  Ambassador Maria Cleofe R. Natividad called on the Lord Mayor of the City of Essen, Oberbürgermeister Reinhard Paß, at the modern Town Hall of Essen, a leading German city in the Ruhr industrial area and home to important mining, steel and power companies in Germany, to further strengthen economic and business ties with the Philippines.

Lord Mayor Paß and members of his City Government, including First Bürgermeister Rudolf Jelinek, Second Bürgermeister Franz-Josef Britz and Third Bürgermeister Rolf Fliß, warmly welcomed Ambassador Natividad, who was accompanied by Minister Mardomel Celo D. Melicor, Philippine Honorary Consul in Essen Heinz-Peter Heidrich, Honorary Vice Consul Milagros Wandelt, and Fr. Dietmar Weber, OSC, parish priest of the Filipino parish in Essen.

Lord Mayor Paß mentioned the long historical ties between Germany and the Philippines, and the contribution of the Filipinos who have settled in Essen to the economic and cultural life of the city.  He referred specifically to the excellent reputation of Filipino nurses in caring for the sick and elderly, noting Essen’s need for health care workers.  He expressed his satisfaction that the Philippines has an Honorary Consulate in Essen.  He urged the Ambassador to visit the many cultural establishments of his city, which has successfully transformed itself from a mining and industrial city in the past two centuries into a modern service-oriented city with museums, concert halls and year-long cultural events.  Essen was declared the European cultural capital in 2010.

Ambassador Natividad thanked the Lord Mayor and informed him of the robust exchanges between the Philippines and Germany.  She cited high-level visits to Manila of Foreign Minister Dr. Guido Westerwelle and Labor Minister Ursula von der Leyen, and the visits to Germany of Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. del Rosario in December 2011, and Vice President Jejomar Binay and Secretary of Finance Cesar A. V. Purisima in 2013.

The Ambassador also informed them of the recent signing of the bilateral agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, and cooperation in other fields such as in social security, defense.  She announced the first political consultation meeting scheduled next month in Manila as another indication of the enhanced bilateral cooperation between both countries.

She emphasized that many German companies based in Essen like STEAG and Thyssen-Krupp are active in the Philippines, and she would like to see more Essen industrial and service firms investing in the Philippines.

Ambassador Natividad also revealed that the first batch of Filipino health care professionals are expected to arrive in Germany before the end of the year.  Responding to the Lord Mayor’s remark on the need of Essen for health care workers, she stated that PH is willing to work closely with Essen to address these challenges.

The Essen based STEAG power company, of which the City of Essen is a part owner, runs a very successful 210 MW coal power plant in Northern Mindanao through its subsidiary, STEAG State Power.  The coal plant, which can still double its present capacity, has contributed immensely to the energy supply and power reliability of Mindanao.  STEAG is also embarking on a renewable energy project for wind turbines in Luzon.

To honor the visiting Ambassador, Lord Mayor Paß presented the great seal of the City of Essen to Ambassador Natividad, and thereafter requested her to sign the city’s ceremonial “Steel” guest book.

Philippine Honorary Consul in Essen Heinz-Peter informed Lord Mayor Paß of the plan of the Filipino community in the region to hold a whole day affair in Essen on 14 June 2014 to commemorate the anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence and the 60th anniversary of Philippine German diplomatic relations.  Lord Mayor Paß indicated to Ambassador Natividad his willingness to co-sponsor the event, which will take place in the city plaza right beside the Essen cathedral.   (END)