NGlobal Magazin 01-2010

Interview with Jörg Bode

Niedersachsen Global www.nglobal.de Initiatives 51 novation in our state. Generating energy efficiently, developing new plant technologies and penetrating international markets — these are the leitmotifs in this sector. By the same token new jobs are created in highly-qualified areas that can only be partially filled from the immediate labour pool — and so targeted skill-building and qualification measures with state government support, and attracting specialists from home and abroad, respond to the growing strength of these sectors for Niedersachsen. And out of all this we see more new opportunities emerging. The coastal regions have excellent pros- pects of developing into a second economic axis in Niedersachsen: construction of the JadeWeserPort deepwater harbour and settlement by the offshore power industry — and E.ON is considering building the world’s first coal-fired power station with an ef- ficiency of over 50 percent in Wilhelmshaven, for in- stance. The state government would welcome this wholeheartedly, as such a plant could produce 30 per- cent more electricity from the same amount of coal as existing power stations —a quantum leap for power station technology. What opportunities does this offer international enterprises for investment and joint ventures in Niedersachsen? The helpful statutory framework for renewable energy in Germany in recent years has stimulated a constant increase in investment in this sector. Thanks to their innovative strengths, medium-sized enterprises in Niedersachsen have been highly successful in market- ing their technologies in Germany and abroad. This also means that foreign investors turn their atten- tion increasingly to these key industries to reap the benefits of this positive development through coop- eration, holdings and joint ventures. In the offshore energy sector especially, the excellent infrastructures of the seaports Emden and Cuxhaven offer prime in- vestment opportunities right on the North Sea coast. A major contract from Great Britain that was won by a German offshore energy consortium in January is proof positive of Niedersachsen’s renewable energy capacities. You’ll be leading business delegations to South Africa and Brazil—can the Niedersachsen econ- After graduation from high school in Celle and having completed his military service, Jörg Bode served an appren- ticeship with Commerz- bank where he also re- ceived training to work with corporate clients. From 2000 until his elec- tion into the 15th Nied- ersachsen Parliament, he was a contact for Deutsche Bank’s cor- porate clients in Han- nover. In October 2009 Bode succeeded Philipp Rösler as Minister for Economics, Labour and Transport of Nieder- sachsen. Photo: Ministry for Economics, Labour and Transport of Niedersachsen ›