By Sarah Bomkapre Kamara
In a bid to strengthen bilateral ties with Germany Sierra Leone's embassy in Berlin has opened a new consulate in Bavaria, one of the most important regions in the European nation. The new consul, Dr. Dietmar Scheiter, has been appointed and has duly started work.
54-year-old Dr. Scheiter has been a businessman for most of his professional life. Having worked for several companies in Germany, he now runs a family business that helps sell new products for companies from his office in Munich. He says he has accepted a new challenge.
"I like new challenges and I am very willing to devote some of my time to serve Sierra Leone," he says. His new duties include building the relationship between Bavaria and Sierra Leone and representing Sierra Leoneans in the region.
An enthusiastic man, Dr. Scheiter says he is making plans and meeting donors, business people and NGOs he believes will be important for Sierra Leone.
"There are lots of benefits for Sierra Leone in the Bavaria region," he says, adding that business companies are looking everyday for new grounds to sell their products. He says Sierra Leone companies can also build business relations to sell their products.
As the second most populous state in Germany, Bavaria (Bayern) is located in Southeast Germany and is one of the country's strongest economies. Its capital is Munich which is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The region is ahead in technology and sciences is headquarters for hundreds of companies including global names like BMW, Siemens and Allianz prompting a Sierra Leonean living in Germany to say that the link with the region will mean a lot for the growth of Sierra Leone's economy.
"It is of importance to us that this new consulate represents Sierra Leone adequately and effectively in a way that the two countries will benefit," says Al-Hassan K. Kondeh, Head of Chancery, at the Sierra Leone embassy in Berlin. He says sectors like agriculture, tourism, minerals and health will be of interest to Bararians.
Babatunde Rahman, President of Sierra Friends Organisation in Germany which is one of the bodies representing the Sierra Leone community in Bavaria, says they are overwhelmed to hear news of the opening of a consulate in the region. "This is a very good initiative as we no longer would have to travel the long distances to get to the embassy," he says.
An interview with the new consul of the new consulate will be published in Politico next week.
(c) Politico 04/10/12
