On 14 November Bernhard Johannes Stempfle, Head of Finance and Technology at Messe Düsseldorf, received his official certificate of appointment as the new Honorary Consul to the Principality of Monaco in North-Rhine Westphalia. This reflects the many years of friendship between Messe Düsseldorf and Monaco.
The International Lounge at Messe Düsseldorf hosted 80 specially invited guests from politics and business, all of whom were there for the official opening of the new Honorary Consulate. The guests of Bernhard Stempfle, Head of Finance and Technology at Messe Düsseldorf and new Honorary Consul to the Principality of Monaco in North-Rhine Westphalia, included Her Excellency Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Ambassador of Monaco, Balázs Szegner, Consul General of Hungary and doyen (spokesperson) to the Consular Corps in North-Rhine Westphalia, Birgitta Radermacher, Head of Düsseldorf City Council, Wolfgang Scheffler, Mayor of Düsseldorf, Dr Bernd Kunth, former Honorary Consul to the Principality of Monaco in North-Rhine Westphalia, and other representatives of the Consular Corps in North-Rhine Westphalia as well as neighbouring federal states. In their presence, Bernhard Stempfle received his certificate of appointment from Her Excellency, the Ambassador of Monaco, Isabelle Berro-Amadeï.
“This is the beginning of a new chapter in the long-standing friendship between Monaco and North-Rhine Westphalia,” said the Ambassador. “I am very grateful to Dr Kunth, who established these links nearly 40 years ago and has been developing our ties ever since. I am confident that Mr Stempfle will continue this work in the best possible way, and indeed that he will develop it further. Moreover, he is extremely familiar with both French culture and the French business world, and he also represents a company which has traditionally had an excellent relationship with Monaco and our Royal Family.”
Bernhard Stempfle expressed his gratitude for being trusted with his new role: “It is a real honour for me to be the Honorary Consul to the Principality of Monaco in North-Rhine Westphalia. Not only does this reflect our economic achievements at Messe Düsseldorf; it also proves that we have made a name for ourselves on the international scene. Furthermore, the new position is a very personal mark of appreciation for me. It’s a recognition of my love of the French language and culture, and of my enthusiasm for different countries, their people and their cultures.”
Long-standing partnership with Messe Düsseldorf
Bernhard Stempfle spent several years living and working in France. But Monaco is also a valued partner for Messe Düsseldorf. Its staff in France actively target the Monegasque market, and for decades Monaco’s Royal Family have been regular visitors to boot Düsseldorf, the world’s largest watersports fair. As the current reigning Prince, Albert II has visited boot several times recently, promoting the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. In 2017 he was among those bestowing the Ocean Tribute Award, an annual prize sponsored by his own royal foundation, the German Ocean Foundation, together with boot Düsseldorf in the three categories Society, Industry and Science. Prince Albert II also regularly stayed at the German athletes’ quarter, the Deutsches Haus Hotel, during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, a venue which is run by Messe Düsseldorf for Deutsche Sport Marketing GmbH (DSM).
Strong links with Düsseldorf
Prince Albert II has close connections to Düsseldorf, the capital of North Rhine Westphalia. As well as coming to boot, he visited the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in Düsseldorf in 2017. Following his spectacular Antarctic expedition, the climate protection advocate attended the gala establishing the Düsseldorf-based German branch of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The chairman of the branch is Dr Kunth.
Set against this background, the Mayor of Düsseldorf, Thomas Geisel, is especially pleased about the opening of the Monegasque Honorary Consulate: “This is Monaco’s way of showing commitment to Düsseldorf and of helping it gain even more in internationalism. I am confident that we will be able to welcome the Royal Family to Düsseldorf many times in the future. We are joined together above all by our love of sports and our love of the environment. The Honorary Consulate is the perfect starting point for promoting these topics even more intensively – as has already happened with boot and the Ocean Tribute Award.”
The work of the Consulate
The Honorary Consulate supports an exchange of culture and industry between the Principality of Monaco and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. It sees itself as a point of contact for Monegasque companies, both those planning to operate in North Rhine Westphalia and firms which are already involved there. Also, whenever called upon, it supports North Rhine Westphalian businesses wanting to obtain or deepen their contacts in Monaco. The Honorary Consulate acts as a contact for Monegasque citizens in North-Rhine Westphalia and represents the country at the relevant networking events and trade fairs.
Bernhard Johannes Stempfle has been Honorary Consul to the Principality of Monaco in North-Rhine Westphalia since he was appointed on 6 July through a royal decree issued by His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II of Monaco. The exequatur (confirmation of the appointment) was issued by the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany on 7 August. Following the official opening on 14 November, the office of Honorary Consul will be held by a Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf again. Werner M. Dornscheidt, Chief Executive Officer of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, has been Honorary Consul of the United Mexican States since 2006: “I’d like to give Bernhard Stempfle my warmest congratulations, and I am delighted to welcome another Honorary Consul from Messe Düsseldorf.
For further details please visit www.consul-monaco-dus.com
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