BANGALORE, September 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Hubert Lienhard, CEO of the German machinery company Voith, will take over the chair of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) in early 2014. Following the CEOs of Siemens and BASF, Lienhard will be the first CEO of a German family-owned company to steer APA. APA was founded in 1993. Previous chairmen include the former Siemens-CEO Heinrich von Pierer, the former BASF-CEO Jürgen Hambrecht. The current APA Chairman is Peter Löscher, the former Siemens CEO.
"We aim at strengthening trade and investment between Asia and Europe in both directions. And we need to reduce barriers to trade and investment," Lienhard stated. Value chains connect Asia and Europe in a much higher intensity as compared to ten years ago. This process needs to be accelerated towards further integrating Asian markets into the world economy. Today, research and development in business is international and needs to be close to the market and the customer.
"German industry is well positioned in Asia," Peter Löscher, the current APA-Chairman added. "The guiding principles of APA - partnership, innovation and sustainability - fit well to the global challenges that need to be tackled jointly by the leaders from Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. It was a pleasure having been asked to chair APA in July 2010 and I will remain fully committed until the end of my term," Löscher assured. With the APA, he sees a unique tool for the German business community to ensure a joint position towards Asia.
The share of Asia-Pacific of total German exports today amount to 14 percent, Asia's share of German foreign direct investment amounts to 10 percent. German companies are experiencing the most remarkable growth dynamic in China - China alone accounted for more than 6 percent of German exports last year.
Hubert Lienhard, born 1951 in Southern Germany, became CEO of Voith in 2008. Prior engagements include the global responsibility for the steam power plant business of ABB. Lienhard has been closely associated with APA since 2003.
About APA
The Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business is the voice of German business active in Asia-Pacific. APA engages in the dialogue on economic policy with the German government and those in the Asian region. APA voices the concerns and interests of German companies' interests towards Asia-Pacific. APA strives for more intense cooperation with Asia-Pacific and helps promoting trade and investment in both directions. APA is an initiative of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV), the Federation of German Wholesale and Foreign Trade (BGA) and the Association of German Banks (BdB).
About Voith:
Voith sets standards in the markets energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transportation and automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith employs almost 40 000 people, generates €5.6 billion in sales, operates in about 50 countries around the world and is today one of the biggest family-owned companies in Europe. http://www.voith.com
Primary Media Contact: Prasad Karat, [email protected], 91-9379915373
Secondary Media Contact: Subhashini Chalam, Voith India, [email protected], 91-9844072965
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