Highly dynamic partnership
Germany is presenting itself in Mexico under the heading “Alliance for the Future”. Innovation and knowledge transfer play an important role in the Year of Germany 2016/2017.
The commitments of German companies are likely to be the first thing some people think about when anyone refers to German-Mexican ties. Collaboration between Siemens and partners in the Latin American country, for example, reaches back to the year 1894, when the firm opened a technical office in Mexico City. The activities of many other companies have also made Germany Mexico’s fifth largest trading partner today: 2015 saw the volume of business reach a value of roughly 17.5 billion US dollars. Some 125,000 employees in Mexico work directly for German companies. Germany Year in Mexico 2016/2017 makes the importance of this cooperation clear and offers a platform for finding even greater potential. However, this is certainly not only about business.
“Mexico is an important partner of Germany in shaping the global questions of the future,” said Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the beginning of June at the opening of the Year of Germany. “That is why we want to develop our political, economic and cultural cooperation further and network our societies more closely together.” Over 1,000 projects, exhibitions and discussions are planned here in the course of the Year. The title of this programme is “Alliance for the Future”.
Joint work on innovations and global knowledge transfer are at the focus of attention here. To a certain extent there is a direct line leading from the early engagement of German technology firms in Mexico to the programme of the Year of Germany in 2016/2017. One project involving ten Mexican universities, for example, is focusing on visions of urban mobility. Raúl Rojas, the IT professor and robotics expert who teaches in Berlin, is advancing the development of tomorrow’s intelligent driving system jointly with researchers from his native country.
The cultural highlight of the Year of Germany in Mexico will be an exhibition of the works of Otto Dix, which will go on show in Monterrey, Mexico City and San Luis Potosí until July 2017. Some 100,000 visitors are expected. Other cultural areas also play a role in the Year of Germany. For example, Germany is the guest country at the children’s and youth people’s book fair in Mexico City. Candida Höfer, one of the best known representatives of the so-called Dusseldorf School of Photography, is realising a project in the capital city too. In addition, representatives of contemporary dance in the two countries are working on coproductions under the title “Erbe in Echtzeit – Humboldt revisited”.
Yes, Humboldt: the natural scientist is considered the founder of German-Mexican friendship. Intellectually, he represents the principles underpinning the Year of Germany: a holistic educational ideal, the high value of cooperation and the idea of transdisciplinary networking. These were also emphasised by Klaus-Dieter Lehmann, President of the Goethe-Institut, at the launch of the programme. The Goethe-Institut in Mexico has taken on the task of coordinating the Year of Germany in the country. “The Year of Germany enables us to show how business, research and culture can work together for our mutual benefit.”
The Federation of German Industries (BDI) is also participating in the body responsible for the Year of Germany, which is chaired by the Federal Foreign Office. Among other things, BDI President Ulrich Grillo emphasised the need for transparency and the opportunities offered by dual vocational education combining theoretical and practical learning. “German industry offers Mexico the chance to work together on sustainable solutions.” Grillo is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Year of Germany, which was appointed for the first time. The Board includes Doris Dörrie, film director, Andreas Renschler, member of the Volkswagen Board of Management, Rolando Villazón, singer, Margret Wintermantel, President of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and Reinhard Zinkann, Executive Director and Co-Proprietor of Miele.
The Year of Mexico in Germany will be running at the same time as the Year of Germany in Mexico. A major exhibition of Mexican cultural treasures will be on display at the Martin Gropius Building in Berlin until 7 August 2016: it is entitled “The Maya – Language of Beauty”. The opening of the exhibition in April 2016 also launched the Year of Mexico in Germany. ▪
