St. Louis Center for International Relations Reports Positive Response From European Officials

Productive meetings in Germany generated new commitments and enthusiastic interest in St. Louis as a destination for European travelers and reciprocal business investment

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) February 12, 2004

Robert Heuermann, Jr., executive director of the St. Louis Center for International Relations, returned from meetings in Stuttgart, Germany, with commitments from four overseas companies to visit St. Louis this year to conduct site reviews for potential new business activities.

The companies include ESG, a developer of electronic and information systems for aircraft and land-based vehicles; DEKRA, a provider of safety and environmental emissions testing; M&W Zander, a facilities engineering firm; and Soehnle-Waagen, manufacturer of medical equipment and measuring components.

“Productive meetings with business and tourism decision-makers in Stuttgart generated new commitments and enthusiastic interest in St. Louis as a destination for European travelers and new, reciprocal business investment,” said Heuermann, who conducted meetings while exhibiting Saint Louis at CMT 2004, one of Europe’s largest trade and travel expositions.

“The St. Louis region’s attractive climate for companies considering U.S. market entry or expansion, and the region’s willingness to assist qualified companies in creating a favorable environment for business growth, appealed to European officials who expressed interest in exploring new opportunities in our community.

“In addition, the Delta Airlines flight from Stuttgart to St. Louis via Atlanta is now being actively promoted in airport flight and tourism literature. European travel executives and consumers were receptive to the cultural and recreational activities that St. Louis will host to celebrate the bicentennial of the Lewis & Clark expedition of 1804 and centennial of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, in addition to many live events and attractions scheduled for this summer,” Heuermann said.

“As a result, we anticipate that the number of German visitors to St. Louis this summer will increase,’ said Heuermann, who added, “St. Louis is Stuttgart’s official ‘Sister City’ and many Germans are familiar with our community.”

More than 50,000 European business and travel executives directly received information about St. Louis’ benefits as a business and travel destination during the nine-day CMT 2004 trade show held January 17-25. Heuermann also participated in a press conference with 40 print journalists broadcast by SWR television, which broadcasts throughout southern Germany.

The St. Louis Center for International Relations (SLCIR) is a non-profit entity administered jointly by St. Louis City and St. Louis County governments. Its primary mission is to promote the St. Louis region’s international profile and develop socio-economic exchanges with other cities to attract more business investment and to expand educational and cultural opportunities locally. It is the development arm of St. Louis’ thirteen sister city relationships and their committees, including the St. Louis-Stuttgart Sister Cities Committee.

For more information, contact Robert Heuermann, Jr. at The St. Louis Center for International Relations at 314.863.6777 or Jeff Dunlap at Powerline Public Relations, LLC in St. Louis at 314.721 5505, or visit the website http://www.slcir.org.

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