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German envoy explores exchanges in visit to NegOcc, Bacolod City

Top officials of Negros Occidental and this provincial capital discussed possible collaborations in various areas with German Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel during her visit here on Wednesday.

At the Provincial Capitol, Reiffenstuel was welcomed by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson while at the Bacolod City Government Center, she met with Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

“It is important, as an ambassador to this country, to know the country. This is my first trip (I am doing) after the pandemic, after such a long time. Negros is an important place to go because it has an important role to play in the country, with the sugar industry. We do a lot of projects here, in Sipalay (City),” the German envoy said in an interview at the Capitol.

Reiffenstuel added that she aims to learn more about the cooperation between her country and the Philippines and explore the potentials of these relations during her visit.

“There are other projects, implementing the agrarian reform. I hope to learn a lot about these projects in meeting with representatives of non-government organizations,” she said.

In Bacolod, Reiffenstuel also explored business, tourism, and cultural exchanges during her meeting with Leonardia.

“I was really impressed to find such a huge potential for cooperation. There is an interest in increasing the renewable energy sector here. This is something the German business, economy, and our partners are interested in,” she said.

“I am happy I could take back this feedback and input I got during the exchange with the mayor and city executives to our business partners, and to follow up with our headquarters and to report back on these experiences,” Reiffenstuel added.

Reiffenstuel was joined by German Embassy Political Advisor Lanz Paningbatan in her trip to the province and the city.

Assigned at the German Embassy in Manila in August 2019, she has worked in the diplomatic service since 1993, also with postings in the German embassies in London, New Delhi and Cairo.

In the Philippines, she has also traveled to Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Cavite, Cebu, Palawan, and in areas in Mindanao, where she met with government officials in efforts to strengthen the bilateral relations between Germany and the Philippines.

Source: Philippines News Agency