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The German Business Group in Cambodia (ADW) invites all early birds to the Hotel Sofitel Phokeethra in Phnom Penh to discuss the next level of industrialization. Generally known as “Industry 4.0”, it mainly consists of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies. Moreover, it comprises cyber-physical systems, the internet of things, cloud computing and cognitive computing. It is a concept that is already widely applied in the global operations of many German industrial groups, and likely to impact the future of manufacturing in Cambodia.

The German engineering company gbc engineers became the youngest member of the German Business Group Cambodia in June 2017. Managed by its owners Daniel Bacon (left) and Adrian Grabara (right), the company provides independent expertise in several engineering processes. According to General Manager Rico Ehrlich, the firm is “a dynamic, internationally active engineering company with a focus on structural design and construction planning in Germany and Southeast Asia. Since 2015, we have been offering high-quality planning and consulting services in structural engineering to our customers.” With additional offices in Berlin and Ho Chi Minh City, gbc engineers includes a broad network of specialists who are ready to realize even complex projects in Cambodia.

On July 1^st, the annual Summer Junior Fellowship Program commenced at the Center for Khmer Studies, the American Research Center in Cambodia. During the next six weeks, Cambodian undergraduates along with international students study contemporary Cambodia, especially the political system, the Kingdom’s foreign relations as well as the dynamics in economics, society, and culture. The program is mainly implemented by Dr. Markus Karbaum, one of Germany’s leading political scientists regarding coeval Cambodia and a specialist in personnel development.

In the early 1970s, first the Club of Rome raised the awareness that natural resources are finite. This insight led quickly to the necessity to handle resources sustainable. It has not only influenced customers’ behavior, but moreover legislation that forced business companies to reduce emissions in manufacturing and to stimulate recycling processes in particular. Decades later, based on these beginnings a new branch of industry has arisen that has been able to proof that sustainability and environmental protection are not an obstruction for the private sector, but a possibility to make money. Today, Germany is one of world’s leading states of the so-called “green economy” that comprises various technical methods to ensure ecologic sustainability. Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBS), a German foundation named after the writer and Nobel laureate Heinrich Böll, has been promoting ecology and sustainable development in Germany and numerous other countries since July 1^st, 1997. Based on this profound expertise, HBS’ experts perceive extensive opportunities for Cambodia.

Due to years of national disorder caused by several armed conflicts and the high demand for unique sculptures of the Angkorian era, Cambodia has become one of the main origins for looted arts since the 1970s. Although the government has significantly increased control capacities over Cambodia’s cultural heritage during the last two decades, it cannot prevent the international black marketing with the country’s cultural assets. As this business is widely known to be extreme profitable, more and more counterfeited artifacts are parts of private and public collections. Two weeks ago, the Rautenstrauch Joest Museum (RJM) in Cologne, Germany, opened a special exhibition in which visitors are called for attention that not every ancient looking sculpture originates from the Khmer Empire.

When people from all over the world try to explain Germany’s economic success, a majority of them likely point to high quality standards of most products or to efficiency, thoroughness, and detail-orientation of its engineers. Rather unknown abroad, the structural organization of the German economy plays an important part in the country's social and economic success story. The concept of the “Social Market Economy” can be defined as a third way alongside capitalism and socialism. Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), a political foundation named after Germany’s first chancellor after World War II, has been promoting this approach for several decades in numerous countries worldwide.

ADW welcomes Urban Space Playground & Cafe which became the newest member of German Business Group Cambodia in May.

ADW member Brains Communication and Kite Digital Solutions, two established local marketing companies with a firm footing in their respective segments, have announced their merger in Phnom Penh on May 25th, 2017. In future, the two communication specialists and their 35 people strong team will operate under the corporate identity of Brains Communication. The fusion combines two vastly experienced teams to serve ever-growing needs for traditional and digital communication solutions in the Kingdom.

On April 04-05, 2017, the German-Cambodian Governmental Negotiations on Development Cooperation were held at the Government Palace, Phnom Penh. The Cambodian delegation was headed by H.E. Chhieng Yanara, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister, and Secretary General of CRDB/CDC. The German delegation was headed by Mr. Klaus Supp, Head of Division of China, Central Asia, East Asia, Laos and Cambodia of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Dr. Ingo Karsten, German Ambassador to Cambodia participated in the Negotiations along with other representatives from the German Embassy, from 18 government ministries and agencies as well as from GIZ and KfW.

Germany calls international scholars and scientists for conducting research at the heart of Europe. The Humboldt Research Fellowship allows postdoctoral researchers to carry out long-term projects (6-24 months) at German universities. Applicants can choose their own topic of research and their academic host. International researchers with above average qualifications, at the beginning of their academic career and only completed the doctorate in the last four years can apply. In addition, potential candidates who have been in Germany for more than six months at the time of application are excluded from this fellowship program.