Government Councilor Hasler opens honorary consulate in Hamburg – Liechtenstein
VADUZ / HAMBURG – Government Councilor Dominique Hasler has been out and about in Germany for the past few days. In addition to a visit to the international match and talks with German politicians, she also uses the opportunity to open a new honorary consulate in Hamburg.
Government councilor Dominique Hasler visited the World Cup qualifier between Liechtenstein and Germany in Wolfsburg on Thursday. On the sidelines of the game, however, the economic and foreign policy interests of the state could also be deepened in the presence of high-ranking personalities from the federal state of Lower Saxony. In addition to the President of the State Parliament Andretta, Government Councilor Hasler also had the opportunity to exchange ideas with the Lord Mayor of Wolfsburg, Dennis Weilmann. According to the government, Wolfsburg is of great importance as the seat of Volkswagen for the Liechtenstein auto parts supplier
Following the international match, the government councilor traveled to Hamburg to open the new Liechtenstein honorary consulate there on Friday. The new honorary consul Gianna Le Claire was introduced to her position. Gianna le Claire is connected to Liechtenstein. Together with her husband, she is anchored and networked in the art and culture scene in the Hanseatic city. In addition to Hamburg, Liechtenstein maintains two other honorary consulates in the Federal Republic of Germany in Frankfurt am Main and Munich. The new opening in Hamburg is intended to help deepen Liechtenstein’s complex relationships with Germany.
Important image ambassadors
The honorary consuls are volunteers abroad who are actively committed to representing Liechtenstein in their consular district. Its tasks include public relations and location promotion. In addition to these tasks, the honorary consulates also support programs and meetings for Liechtenstein visits at government and ambassador level. Liechtenstein has a strategically oriented network of honorary consulates in the states of Georgia, California, Massachusetts, Illinois, Texas, as well as London, Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Brno, Singapore and Hong Kong and now also in Hamburg. The network thus comprises a total of 12 honorary consulates in 6 countries. As part of the exchange, government councilor Dominique Hasler underlined the important role of the honorary consulates in promoting image abroad: “With networks, among other things, they contribute to the promotion of Liechtenstein as a business and educational location.”
The political relations between Germany and Liechtenstein are characterized by close bilateral contacts in various areas. In foreign policy as well as economic and financial policy, there is a regular exchange at government level. Liechtenstein also maintains close relationships with the German federal states. Germany is one of Liechtenstein’s most important economic partners. Alongside Switzerland and the USA, Germany is one of the three most important export destinations for Liechtenstein industrial products.
In Hamburg, the government councilor also exchanged views on current political issues with government representatives (Hamburg Senate). In addition, she was invited by the traditional Übersee Club to give a lecture on Liechtenstein’s foreign policy and to bring Liechtenstein’s foreign policy closer to those present. According to the broadcast, the bald 100-year-old Überseeclub is still one of the central places in Hamburg where outstanding personalities from business, politics, culture and science meet.