In his first official visit to Atlanta, Germany’s ambassador to the United States, Jurgen Chrobog, spoke of the continued attractiveness of the Southeast as an investment opportunity for German companies while also promising that Germany would become increasingly attractive to U.S. investors.
Dr. Chrobog visited several German companies in Atlanta who told him that not being hindered by regulations as they are in Germany, and the pro-investment Georgia Legislature contributed to the success of their companies.
However, Dr. Chrobog said in an interview with GlobalFax that two-way investment between Georgia and Germany is very important. He added that a recent tax reduction in Germany and a continuing effort to deregulate the economy are making Germany a more competitive investment environment.
He said that while wages and some other factors may not be as attractive as some other countries, East Germany is one of the most modern investment sites in Europe. “The infrastructure is brand new as they started from zero, and I’m glad so many American companies invested in this part of Germany. We need it.”
While the U.S. media give a negative view of U.S.-German relations, the actual ties between the two countries are very strong. He said that the U.S. continues to be Germany’s most important trading partner outside of Europe, and he mentioned the need for a “Trans-Atlantic Alliance” to further the development of this relationship.
Dr. Chrobog also warned that U.S. citizens don’t realize the effect that a common European currency will have on the U.S., and with this monetary union occurring soon, Americans should begin to analyze how this may affect their international economic relationships.
He also praised former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn as “one of the outstanding senators, who wants his country to look to Europe and other parts of the world and didn’t focus only on domestic issues.”
Ambassador Chrobog expressed disappointment that during the past two years, not a single congressman from the U.S. visited Germany.
He also praised Gov. Zell Miller, whom he met with during his two-day trip to Atlanta and whom he said was “extremely interested in the economic field.”
During his trip to Atlanta, the ambassador spoke at a luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton Downtown organized by the German American Chamber of Commerce, and a reception was held in his honor by German Consul-General Klaus Zehentner and his wife at their home in Buckhead.