Newsletter June 2011

The office of the Representative of German Industry and Trade in Washington D.C. (RGIT) submitted comment in cooperation with the German American Chambers of Commerce (GACC) and on behalf of the Federation of German Industries (BDI). The DOC sought public comment on options for enhancing the E.U.-U.S. economic relationship by reducing or eliminating divergent standards and regulations.

Companies active in the wind sector recommended that the U.S. government permit self-certification. This would stimulate the market. Electro-technical and electronics companies commented that U.S. standards ought to adopt or be modeled after international standards so that identical products can be produced and sold in multiple countries. Transatlantic cooperation in E-mobility should be deepened as well. This issue is already on the agenda of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC). The GACC provides a range of services to 3,000 member companies located throughout the United States.

RGIT’s public comment can be found here (Link: http://www.rgit-usa.com/fileadmin/ahk_rgitusa/media/pdf/2011/RGIT_Public_Comment_-_Docket_ITA-2011-0006_-_FINAL.pdf)

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.

We HEART New York! May 17, 2011 - The German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (GACC) showed its love for a good cause and participated in the American Heart Association’s 30th annual Start! Wall Street Run and Heart Walk. Together with approximately 12,000 participants from various corporate sponsors our team of 20 GACC employees and supporters finished the 3-mile run through New York’s Financial District to increase awareness of heart disease and raise money for lifesaving research programs. We are proud to have done our part contributing to the success of this year’s event.

 

Recover up to 19% of your expenses in Germany! The GACC assists you in reclaiming the VAT (Value Added Tax) charged on business-related expenses while on business in Germany. Refundable VAT applies to:

• Accommodation (hotel, restaurant, telephone)
• Transportation (taxi, car rental, trains, flights, etc.)
• Fairs, exhibitions, conferences, seminars (space rental, booth construction, furniture & equipment rental,
  utility charges, professional fees)
• Professional services
• Servicing & maintenance on equipment & machinery and
• Delivery of goods to a third party

• Download our info sheet

Please note that the deadline set by the German Tax Authorities for processing 2010 invoices is June 30, 2011.

If you are interested in our service regarding 2010 or 2011 invoices, we recommend that you to send us your original invoices at your earliest convenience. We will check them for eligibility and guide you through the further process.
For further information, please contact Ms. Susanne Gellert at (212) 974-8861 or vatservices@gaccny.com.

The German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
together with its member WTP Advisors invite you to an evening seminar on

US Government Incentive Programs for German Companies

Join us at

Merrill Lynch
1251 Avenue of the Americas
24th Floor
New York, New York 10020
(Entrance on 50th Street)

Wednesday June 22, 2011
6:00-8:00p.m.

Please RSVP by June 20th at awittig@gaccny.com

For more information, please visit our website at http://www.gaccny.com/events/.

What a splendid evening it was! This year’s asparagus dinner brought 270 members and guests of the German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. New York together - to celebrate the evening at the magnificent Tribeca Rooftop.

Imported German white asparagus from Rheinland-Pfalz, and German wines from Hessen, together with local live music made this asparagus dinner 2011 very special.

Among all of our highly valued guests, we especially enjoyed the company of Consul General Dr. Horst Freitag and Ambassador Dr. Klaus Scharioth and used the ocassion to express a special thank you and farewell to both.

With great views over Manhattan from the location’s roof terrace, this was a great night to remember. See for yourself in our picture gallery. We hope to see you (again) next year!

• Image Gallery

Anaheim, California and Aroostook County, Maine  -   The wind power technology program at Northern Maine Community College has attracted international attention resulting in $28,000 worth of tool and equipment donations from three German companies.  That announcement was made on May 24 at the American Wind Energy Association WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition in Anaheim, California.

Representatives from the companies announced their contributions to NMCC’s wind power technology program lead instructor Wayne Kilcollins, who is attending the four-day event along with other delegates from Maine involved in the state’s wind industry.  The announcement was made during an afternoon reception at the Maine Wind Industry Pavillion at the AWEA conference.  The equipment donated will be shipped to the NMCC campus in the coming weeks. 

>>> Continue reading.

To Whom it May Concern,

Among the countless non-descriptive commencement speeches of this graduation season, one caught our eye like a diamond in the rough – a beacon of hope in a dark sea of boring. It was a speech given by the COO of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg, at Barnard University. The premise of the speech was “The Women Of My Generation Blew It, So Equality Is Up To You, Graduates.”

Aside from the title making us chuckle, it got us thinking about our role as women in the workplace. For our mothers’ generation, it was about a 50/50 split between women who stayed home as executives of their household and those who worked outside of the home. But times have changed.

>>> Continue reading How We Sink, our intercultural blog.

New website highlights business goals: Modern, international, service-friendly, customer-oriented

The new design offers a more modern, easier layout, clear structure for various user groups, and content that is "to the point." www.messe-essen.de. "For our customers and partners in Germany and around the world, we provide the best possible service and give a clear understanding of the fair."
Exhibitors, visitors and the press will find a range of information tailored to them with many possibilities. Applications for participation in exhibitions, booth construction and design and services are available at the click of a button. If you are looking for a hotel room, would like to know where a convenient parking area is or even what you can do after the show closes, you can find all that now online on our website. Directions and admission prices can be found here as well as restaurant and tourist tips.

There will be lots of information available for journalists and other press. Press releases and photos can be downloaded and activation of the "modernized" press area with the English version of the press release will be made available on the Messe Essen website soon. At the moment not all functions are active, but in the next few weeks the electronic package will be complete. In the future, we are working on even more interactivity, more photos and content, its own video portal, an interactive site plan and other social media activities. So check back often.