Düsseldorf, 4 February 2015 - The state capital Düsseldorf and the state-owned economic development agency NRW.INVEST jointly organized the traditional reception to mark the Chinese New Year for the first time this year. Around 350 guests, including many representatives of Chinese companies and institutions, were welcomed by Minister of Economic Affairs Garrelt Duin, Mayor Thomas Geisel and Consul General Haiyang Feng.
Mayor Thomas Geisel welcomed in particular the new Chinese Consul General Haiyang Feng, who took up his duties on 1 February: "The new Chinese Consulate General in Düsseldorf is a strong sign by the Chinese government demonstrating its confidence in the location and its significance for the development of Chinese companies in Düsseldorf and NRW and will provide further growth stimuli. For Düsseldorf and NRW it is important that Chinese and German companies have a consular point of contact here in the state capital."
"North Rhine-Westphalia is well on the way to becoming the No. 1 location for the Chinese economy in Europe," said Economics Minister Garrelt Duin. "More than 850 Chinese companies have already recognized the advantages of the location and settled in NRW. Their number is steadily increasing. Our state-owned economic development agency NRW.INVEST again set a settlement record last year: 77 companies from China decided in favor of North Rhine-Westphalia in 2014, creating around 1,000 jobs. We want to continue to expand on this," said the Minister.
"Thanks to our joint efforts, relations between China and North Rhine-Westphalia as well as Düsseldorf have experienced accelerated development in recent years and created a new constellation of all-round cooperation. We are delighted that North Rhine-Westphalia and Düsseldorf are providing an important platform for Chinese companies and investors," said Consul General Haiyang Feng in his opening speech. "The settlement record of Chinese companies and the increase in investment inquiries from China are evidence of the superiority of the geographical location, infrastructure, industries and services in North Rhine-Westphalia and Düsseldorf."
The Chinese Enterprise Association e.V. (CEA) was established in Düsseldorf five years ago, since when it has evolved into the largest regional Chinese business association in Germany with currently around 70 members and an important network for Chinese companies from all over NRW. On this evening, as a gesture of solidarity with the state capital, CEO Xueqi Bei handed over a check for 50,000 euros to support the campaign "New Trees for Düsseldorf".
Last year Düsseldorf and NRW were the most important destination region for Chinese investment projects in Europe. Around 850 companies, including many high-tech manufacturers and market leaders in their industries, have now settled in North Rhine-Westphalia, including 330 in the state capital alone.
The economic development agency of the state capital and the state-owned economic development agency NRW.INVEST work together on many projects in order to strengthen the business location and to settle Chinese companies; most recently during a business trip last November and at a joint investor conference in Beijing. In the future, further joint activities are also planned within the framework of the location campaign "Germany at its best".
