Newsletter August 2011

It was on August 3rd, 2011, when about 100 members, guests, and friends of the German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. in New York attended the luncheon with U.S. Ambassador to Germany Philip D. Murphy. After a delightful 3-course lunch, the attendees had the opportunity to listen to a charismatic speech by the ambassador. Born in Boston, but a Berliner at heart, Ambassador Murphy spoke about the opportunities of the strong German-American business ties, as well as his take on current U.S. political developments. He also let the crowd in on some of the challenges of diplomacy and was pleased to answer questions from the guests. A special thank-you goes to all our attending members and guests.

For the Ambassador’s full speech, please follow the link.

On July 23, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) partially shut down. Surprisingly, their short-term financing and expenditure authorization had failed in Congress. In the past it had been renewed twenty times without any problems. Since long-term financing of this administrative part of the U.S. Department of Transportation expired in 2007, the FAA has been receiving its funding through short-term measures (see also WN 24/2011).

Both houses of Congress blamed each other for the failure. Point of conflict were additions from the House of Representatives concerning the financing of rarely-used airports in rural areas and the closure of ten airports that are within a 90-mile radius to major airport. These cost-cutting measures had not been accepted by the Senate. Instead, senators want to follow a request by the White House and the Department of Transportation and approve the funding in its present form. On August 4, Congress reached an agreement on stopgap funding for the FAA that will last until Congress returns from recess in September. 

More information http://www.rgit-usa.com/news-modul/news-single/artikel/federal-aviation-administration-partially-incapacitated/

RGIT's weekly German-language Newsletter „Washington News“ reports on current political, economic and legal developments in the United States, that are relevant for the transatlantic trade. The newsletter presently has over 850 subscribers and reaches up to 1550 people weekly through internal multiplication by the subscribers. Subscribers also have access to our Washington News archive on our website.

http://www.rgit-usa.com/news/washington-news/

If you are interested in subscribing please send an email to publications@rgit-usa.com.

The German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. together with its member Alston & Bird LLP and Flick Gocke Schaumburg invite you to a roundtable luncheon on

German/U.S. Cross Border Tax and Estate Planning for Private Clients Seeking the Best Results in Both Jurisdictions

Please join us on

September 13, 2011
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Alston & Bird LLP
90 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10016

This roundtable will focus on tax challenges that foreigners face before, during, and after being employed in the U.S. Our tax experts will bring in knowledge from both sides of the ocean, addressing the following topics:
 
- Pre-immigration planning: U.S. and German planning before establishing U.S. residence or U.S. domicile
- Planning while stationed in the U.S.
- Planning prior to returning to Germany

• RSVP & More information

The Representative of German Industry and Trade (RGIT) invites you to a conference on

Skilled Labor: Conditions for Investments, Manufacturing, and Economic Growth in the U.S.
 
October 3rd, 2011
8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Newseum
555 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington D.C., DC 20001
Breakfast and Lunch will be served

The conference will provide a perspective from the point of view of businesses of the need for a skilled work force in manufacturing as well as vocational and educational training (VET). Enterprises from both sides of the Atlantic will discuss the important role policymakers play to set up respective frameworks on a regional, state and national level.

• More information

The German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (GACC) with the support of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) is proud to announce the German American Offshore Wind Conference on October 18th, 2011. The event, held at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ, will feature presentations from experts in the German and US offshore wind market and provide an ideal networking opportunity for companies that are active in the industry.

Building on the developments at the AWEA Offshore WINDPOWER in Baltimore, MD, the GACC will be hosting a delegation of German wind energy suppliers and service companies with interest in expanding into the US. These companies will use their experience in the German offshore wind market to review the opportunities and challenges for the offshore wind industry in the US.

Topics at the event will be:

• Offshore wind energy research and development
• Infrastructure, technology, and the path to deployment
• Project development in the US
• The Alpha Ventus project and the future of offshore wind in Germany

The event is part of a series of sustainability conferences organized by the Germany American Chamber of Commerce. 
Admission to this conference is free.

• For more details or to register, please visit the event website

Business Opportunities at the United Nations

Date: November 3-4, 2011

Venue: The Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations (German Mission), New York

As the worldwide biggest buyer, the United Nations (UN) procured goods and services in the amount of almost US$ 14 billion in 2009.

Unaffected by the economic situation, the UN procurement volume more than doubled in the past five years.

As German suppliers are still under-represented, use this opportunity to learn more about UN procurement directly at the United Nation's main location in New York.

Furthermore, during the seminar, you will have the unique chance for one-on-one meetings with UN buyers. Please register by September 30, 2011 to be considered for these meetings.

• RSVP & More information

This seminar is organized particularly for German companies. It is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

Andreas Lupold Hydrotechnik, LLC, a Baden Württemberg-based company specializing in hydraulics technology and engineering, is seeking a graduate engineer or technician in the field of mechanical engineering, fluent in German, for the establishment of an assembly and later a production facility in the Southeast U.S. (SC, NC or GA). Further information is available online at www.lupold.de.

Messe Essen is organizing the first Brazil Welding Show in São Paulo from 18 to 21 October 2011. The trade fair for welding technology is the first event of Messe Essen in Latin America, following successful offshoots of the world fair SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN in other countries such as China, India and Russia. Brazil will also be attractive for international companies in the welding industry in the coming years, not least of all thanks to sporting events. An investment volume of over 40 billion Euros is expected solely in the light of the soccer World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in the summer of 2016.

The Brazil Welding Show will be taking place every two years beginning 2011, parallel to South America's largest branch meeting for metal forming and manufacturing, the Corte & Conformação de Metais