Dear Ms Schöne,
Ms Dofour,
Mr Janus,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Welcome to the Senate Reception on the occasion of the Annual General Meeting of the Berne Union in Hamburg, which is also dedicated to a special anniversary.
For 90 years, the Berne Union has been contributing to a strong global economy and secure cross-border cooperation.
As the international association of the global export credit and investment insurance industry, it
- offers a vast network of expertise,
- promotes the education and training of young professionals,
- and works to establish modern industry standards.
More than 80 companies from over 60 countries are members of the Berne Union.
In 2023, they covered 3 trillion dollars worth of risks. Approximately two-thirds of this was for projects in developing and emerging countries.
You have chosen to hold your General Assembly in a city that values your work.
Trade and international cooperation have always been the foundation of our economy and prosperity.
Here, in the Great Ballroom of our City Hall, you can take a glimpse of our history, from the first settlements on the Alster and Elbe rivers to the age of industrialization and Hamburg's rise as an international port city.
Over the centuries, we have established trade relations with every continent.
At the same time, the need of Hamburg's merchants for financial services led to the development of a strong financial system.
The first German stock exchange was founded in Hamburg in 1558, followed by the first German giro bank in 1619.
Even the world's oldest insurance company is based in our Hanseatic city: the "Hamburger Feuerkasse" was founded in 1676 by our parliament and city council.
Today, Hamburg is a major financial center in Northern Europe.
About 10,000 companies generate a gross value of 6 billion euros per year.
We may not be the largest location for the insurance industry in Germany, but we are the most international.
Hamburg companies are particularly experienced in transport, marine and industrial insurance.
Euler Hermes and Allianz Trade, which are hosting the General Meeting this year, are global leaders in the credit insurance business with a network in over 50 countries.
On behalf of the German government, Euler Hermes provides state guarantees for export transactions and is therefore a key financial player in the world's third-largest economy.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the Berne Union's spring meeting in Oslo earlier this year, you reported that global commitments to renewable energy doubled in 2023, reaching a record number of 20 billion dollars.
2023 was also a record year for Germany.
German export guarantees for renewable energy projects amounted to more than 3 billion euros – three times as much as in 2019.
I think this is a strong impulse on our way to the Paris Agreement and it's in the spirit of the first Hamburg Sustainability Conference, which we held just a week ago in our City Hall, with presidents, ministers, ambassadors, CEOs and other participants from over 100 countries.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
From our history as a city of merchants, we know that risks are always part of business.
The Berne Union and its members ensure that the risks remain manageable and that the opportunities of international cooperation can be seized, even in times of increasing geopolitical tensions and uncertainties.
And as a traditional "Hanseatic City", we have learned that great challenges are better mastered in an alliance of strong and trustworthy partners.
This fits well with the theme of the 2024 General Assembly of the Berne Union, which is "Collaboration".
I wish you an interesting evening, a successful conference week and a pleasant stay in Hamburg.
Thank you very much.