Washington, DC -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/19/2010 -- Energy policy, technologies, markets and the environment were the topics of a dialogue session held by the GermanAmericanBusinessForum (GABF) on May 5, 2010.

Participants at the dialogue session, moderated by Robert Clark, Deputy Director (U.S.) of the GABF, discussed the following:

• The juxtaposition of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the approval of the first U.S. offshore wind farm and the operational status of Germany's first offshore wind farm.
• The geopolitical and technical aspects of energy supplies for the U.S. and German markets.
• The expected impact of advances in natural gas recovery technologies on the drive to implement renewable energy strategies.
• Renewable energy strategies and adoption in command- versus market-driven economies, and the impact to U.S. and Germany energy-related companies.
• The transatlantic business outlook for energy-related industries in exploration, generation and consumption.

"Energy and renewables are important and dynamic aspects of the business bridge between the U.S. and Germany, both from the perspective of the relative domestic considerations and the transatlantic trade in renewable technologies", said Mr. Clark, "Sharing experiences and perspectives generated insights, ideas and definite ways forward for the dialogue session attendees".

Participants included Peter H. Dehnen, President of the GABF, and members of the American and German-American business communities, including a representative from the Greater Washington Initiative.

GABF Dialogue Sessions are invitation-only events; limited in size to ensure serious discussions and cross-cultural understanding on topical issues between all the participants.

The GermanAmericanBusinessForum in Washington, D.C. is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen the bridge supporting U.S.-German business relations.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Washington, DC -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/05/2010 -- Government stimulus programs, innovation and growth for companies in the greater Washington region was the focus of a dialogue session held by the GermanAmericanBusinessForum (GABF) on February 24, 2010.

Participants at the dialogue session, moderated by Peter H. Dehnen, president of the GABF, discussed the following:
• The nature of U.S. and German government approaches to stimulate economic growth.
• The impact of stimulus measures on private sector performance and growth.
• The nature of innovation and how internationalizing innovation achieves research results not otherwise possible.
• The benefits to the "home" country when an international company innovates and succeeds in a foreign market.

"Taking a more focused view of stimulus as that which 'stimulates' and fosters innovation", said Mr. Dehnen, "provides a better understanding of the implications for growth by companies, both here in the greater Washington area and in Germany".

Attendees included members of the German-American business community, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Washington Initiative, Deutsche Forschungsgemeineschaft (the German Research Foundation), the German embassy and the office of the Representative for German Industry and Trade.

GABF Dialogue Sessions are a regular series of topical, invitation-only events; limited in size to ensure serious discussions and cross-cultural understanding between all the participants.

The GermanAmericanBusinessForum in Washington, D.C. is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen the bridge supporting U.S.-German business relations.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Washington, D.C. -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/03/2010 -- Bringing opportunity and jobs into the greater Washington region from German businesses was the focus of a dialogue session held by the GermanAmericanBusinessForum (GABF) on January 27, 2010.

The moderated discussion, led by Peter H. Dehnen, president of the GABF, included members of the German-American business community, regional economic development organizations, and representatives from the German embassy and media.

"We can match industries, companies and suppliers" in the effort to bring business opportunity from Germany to the Washington region, said Mr. Dehnen, "but the real value comes when we can help a German CEO to understand the strengths of the Washington area and match him or her with a CEO who is already conducting business here."

Participants discussed:
• Domestic U.S. economic development activities undertaken at the federal, state and county levels.
• Different strategic approaches to fostering interest in and the selection of the Washington region for inbound investment from Germany.
• Examples of German companies that began with modest investments (3-5 employees) and grew into much larger operations.

Participants also agreed to bring together CEOs of German companies from the Washington region at the GABF's next session.

The GermanAmericanBusinessForum in Washington, D.C. is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen the bridge supporting U.S.-German business relations.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Washington, D.C. -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/03/2009 -- The GermanAmericanBusinessForum in Washington, D.C. (GABF) held a dialogue session in Duesseldorf, Germany on November 30, 2009 entitled: "Germany in Change? – U.S. in Change? Outlook 2010: Where are the Transatlantic Business Potentials." The Duesseldorf event was a companion to the GABF's dialogue session in Washington, D.C. on October 26, 2009. U.S. participants included members of government, industry, law and trade organizations; German participants consisted of business leaders, as well as the new U.S. Consul General for North-Rhine Westphalia, Janice Weiner.

Participants in both Washington, D.C. and Duesseldorf, Germany shared the view that the alliance between Germany and the United States remains strong and productive in the context of the political changes in the European Union resulting from the implementation of the Lisbon treaty. Both sides also noted the impact of the global economic downturn, and expressed that U.S. and German businesses were engaged in repositioning and reinventing themselves to conduct business effectively in 2010.

Participants in the dialogue session in Germany discussed the Far Eastern economies and noted that there is a fascination with the economic performance of China. One participant noted that while there are many business regulations in China, there also exists a certain amount of pragmatism in order to achieve results. The participants also noted the use of German technology, experience and innovation to define and implement projects in the U.S.

Participants in the dialogue session in Washington, D.C. discussed the changes in both the U.S. and German federal government administrations in 2009, and the related expectations of change to business policy in both countries. U.S. participants also discussed the Buy American provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the stimulus package), and noted some of the uncertainty as to how these provisions would be applied to German firms that are suppliers to American prime contractors.

Promoting a dialogue between U.S. and German business leaders "results in new ideas and projects", stated the GABF's Founder and President, Peter H. Dehnen, and "creates a more concrete understanding of what constitutes sustainable success in the U.S., namely, 'Doing business the American Way'."

The GermanAmericanBusinessForum in Washington, D.C. is a non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen the bridge supporting U.S.-German business relations.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm