Team Philippines-Germany poses for a photo with H.E. President Benigno S. Aquino III. (L-R) Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Mme. Elizabeth Buensuceso; Mr. Reiner Zimmermann, Managing Director of Commerzbank AG Frankfurt; Mrs. Vicky Zimmermann, wife of Mr. Zimmermann; Mr. Heinz-Peter Heidrich, Philippine Honorary Consul in Essen; Mrs. Mrs. Gudrun Heidrich, wife of Consul a.h. Heidrich; Mr. Eckbert von Bohlen und Halbach, Honorary Consul in Munich; Secretary of Foreign Affairs Hon. Albert del Rosario; Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad; H.E. President Benigno S. Aquino III; Prof. Dr. Gerhard Zeidler, Philippine Honorary Consul General in Stuttgart; Mrs. Ingeborg Zeidler, wife of Prof. Dr. Zeidler; Dr. Inge Groth-Fromm, wife of Mr. Hartmut Fromm; Mr. Hartmut Fromm, Philippine Honorary Consul in Dresden; and Commercial Counsellor Jose Antonio Buencamino.

Members of the German business sector joined the Team during this visit.  They are Mr. Nico Westphal, Regional Manager ASEAN-South Pacific of the German Asia-Pacific Business Association in Hamburg, Mr. Harald Penner, Managing Director of Asia Pacific Forum Berlin / Berlin Partner GmbH in Berlin, Ms. Christina Padilla of the AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development Cooperation in Cologne, and Mr. and Mrs. Reiner Zimmermann, Managing Director Financial Institutions of Commerzbank in Frankfurt.

The programme of the visiting delegation included high level meetings with His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. del Rosario, Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. of the Department of Tourism (DOT), and Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Dr. Lilia B. de Lima.

The German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) hosted the visiting delegation at GPCCI’s new office at Doehle Haus in Makati City, with German businessmen and the German Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Joachim Heidorn.

Chairman Washington Sycip, Founder of SGV & Co., the Philippines' largest multidisciplinary professional services firm received the delegation during the dinner hosted by SGV in honor of the delegation.

After their meetings in Manila, the delegation proceeded to Bohol to meet with Governor Edgar M. Chatto, Congressman Arthur Yap and the mayors of the various towns, and explore tourism investment potentials in that province.  Germany is the highest source of tourist arrivals from Western Europe.

Germany is the Philippines' biggest trading partner in Europe and remains the strongest economy in the region. Despite the financial debt crisis that is affecting Europe, Germany posted positive growth rates in 2011, and has recorded lowest unemployment levels in the recent quarters.   END