Cornelius Schnitzler to promote Arkansas to European-based companies

Berlin, Germany -- Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson today officially opened Arkansas’ new European office in Berlin, Germany. The opening of the Arkansas office was celebrated with a reception at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin hosted by U.S. Ambassador to Germany John B. Emerson. Cornelius Schnitzler, a German national with a background in economics and trade, will run the new Arkansas office and work closely with Lenka Horakova, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s (AEDC) Director of Business Development for Europe.

This is Arkansas’ third international office. The state has maintained offices in Japan and China for several years.

Schnitzler was chosen because of his established business relationships in Europe. He is fluent in German, English and French. Germany is the largest foreign direct investor in Arkansas with more than 30 German subsidiaries located in the state.

Auburn, AL -- The Berghoff Group announced plans to set up its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Auburn, where it will invest $30 million and create 100 precision-machining jobs over the next five years.

John Emerson, the U.S. Ambassador to Germany, announced the deal today at the 2016 Hannover Messe, the world’s largest industrial fair. The U.S. is the event’s official partner country this year, and President Barack Obama joined German Chancellor Angela Merkel to officially open the fair on Monday.

“The Berghoff Group is a family-owned firm with a strong tradition here in Germany,” Emerson said. “We are proud to join that tradition with U.S. productivity and innovation – among the many reasons foreign firms choose to invest in the United States.”

Governor attends trade show, meets with German companies

Dusseldorf, Germany -- As part of his trade mission to Europe, Governor Asa Hutchinson today visited Düsseldorf, Germany where he attended the METEC Trade Fair. During his time in Düsseldorf, Governor Hutchinson met with several prospective companies with an interest in expansion into North America.

METEC, held once every four years, is an exhibition event for steel technology and focuses on castings, foundry technology, metallurgy and thermo process technology. By visiting the show, the governor will make valuable contacts in Arkansas’s growing metals sector, specifically the steel industry. More than 486 exhibitors from 33 countries and more than 19,000 visitors attended the 2011 METEC Trade Fair.