Minister Liminski and Consul General Kao conclude their USA trip with positive outcomes

Foundation for new collaborations

During his four-day trip to the US, Minister Nathanael Liminski laid the foundation for new collaborations. He was accompanied by Consul General Pauline Kao. At the site where 13 families from Krefeld founded the first German settlement in the US, Minister Liminski established a new partnership with the non-governmental organization “Launch of Philadelphia.” In the presence of the former Mayor of Philadelphia, Dr. Wilson Goode, he signed a corresponding declaration. “On the occasion of our NRW-USA Year, we want to further intensify transatlantic school exchanges, focusing particularly on socially disadvantaged students. There are already nearly 100 school partnerships between NRW and the USA. They contribute to expanding horizons and fostering friendships. We want to make this possible for even more young people in the future,” explained Minister Liminski.

With the Governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, Minister Liminski agreed on an administrative exchange. “Especially in the energy sector, we can learn a lot from each other. This applies to the topic of hydrogen, as well as the speed of planning and approval procedures. Therefore, we want to strengthen the networking of our administrations,” said Minister Liminski. Additionally, Governor Murphy and Minister Liminski agreed to enhance cooperation in exchange programs during vocational training, especially for companies with locations in both New Jersey and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Minister Liminski and Consul General Kao also met with the Minister of Economic Development of North Rhine-Westphalia’s partner state, Pennsylvania, Rick Siger. Within the renewed declaration of intent for cooperation between North Rhine-Westphalia and Pennsylvania in 2022, Minister Liminski identified specific areas of collaboration with Minister Siger, focusing on hydrogen and vocational training. “Pennsylvania and North Rhine-Westphalia, as strong industrial regions, face similar challenges. We have found concrete formats to learn more from each other on the path of transformation,” stated Minister Liminski. In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s capital, the delegation visited Phoenix Contact, a company with its roots in Blomberg, Lippe.

Minister Nathanael Liminski stated, “North Rhine-Westphalia and the USA share a close and longstanding friendship. To set new impulses, we declared the NRW-USA Year 2023/2024 under the heading ‘A Perfect Match.’ Our trip to the United States served this goal. I personally experienced the richness of our special connection with the USA at many points and, together with our counterparts, developed ideas to deepen this close friendship.”

Consul General Pauline Kao expressed, “This packed four-day journey has convinced me more than ever that the people in North Rhine-Westphalia and the United States are deeply and permanently connected, and that it is indeed a ‘perfect match.’ It was particularly moving to stand at the place where one of the original 13 families from Krefeld settled in Germantown, Philadelphia, the birthplace of American democracy. The relationships between NRW and the USA are rooted not only in shared history and values but also offer a multitude of opportunities for concrete collaboration in many areas. By reaching out to each other, we will strengthen the transatlantic community, which is more needed today than ever.”

Advocacy for the UN Site in Bonn

In New York, Minister Liminski and Consul General Kao met with UN Under-Secretary-General Melissa Fleming. The focus of the discussion was the future of the UN site in Bonn. Minister Liminski stated, “The state government of NRW is committed to strengthening the UN site in Bonn with its 26 resident UN organizations and further increasing the international visibility of the federal city. In my conversation with UN Deputy Secretary-General Melissa Fleming, I made it clear that, as a state, we are ready to support the establishment of additional UN organizations on the Rhine. For example, we could provide suitable properties or assist in the accommodation and care of family members.”

Minister Liminski also conveyed the wish that Bonn be more extensively used by the United Nations as a conference location. Liminski expressed, “Here, too, we are ready to provide support, such as in terms of security and logistics.”

Congratulations to German Winners at the International Emmys

Minister Liminski, as Minister of Media, attended the International Emmys in New York. “With four German nominations and the victory of the Netflix series ‘Die Kaiserin’ in the Drama Series category, we can be very satisfied from a German perspective. These productions showcase Germany’s strong role as a film and media location,” said the Minister.

He used both the event and the meetings before and after the iEmmys to engage in discussions with media professionals from Germany and abroad. “We have explored forward-looking opportunities for deeper collaboration with US film producers and platforms such as Amazon and Netflix, and we are bringing important insights back to North Rhine-Westphalia,” Minister Liminski stated.

Read more about Minister Liminski’s and Consul General Kao’s visit to the US here.