Oliver Hermes appointed as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is Germany's most important economic partner in Central Asia. It has also been of central importance to the Wilo Group for over 20 years. Now, Oliver Hermes, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of the Wilo Group, has been bestowed a great honor: he has been appointed as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in North Rhine-Westphalia.
On Wednesday (August 25th), in the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Dauren Karipov, the official appointment ceremony for the new Honorary Consul took place, along with the opening of the newly established Honorary Consulate office at Wilopark. In addition to Lord Mayor Thomas Westphal, representatives from NRW Global Business and Dr.-Ing. E.h. Jochen Opländer, shareholder and honorary chairman of the supervisory board of WILO SE and founder of the Wilo Foundation, as well as the entire Wilo Board, were in attendance.
"Germany and Kazakhstan share a lot. I am delighted with my appointment and the associated opportunity to expand and strengthen German-Kazakh relations from NRW in Germany," said Oliver Hermes. "North Rhine-Westphalia is a particularly important region for us. This federal state is the industrial core of Germany and a modern center for cutting-edge technology. Currently, a partnership between North Rhine-Westphalia and the Almaty region in Kazakhstan is being examined. I am confident that Mr. Oliver Hermes' work will be successful and productive. His wealth of personal experience, authority, and foresight are precisely the personal qualities that qualify him for the position of Honorary Consul," explained H.E. Karipov.
North Rhine-Westphalia and Kazakhstan as power centers in their respective regions
North Rhine-Westphalia and Kazakhstan have much in common. "In addition to a similar population size, both are the respective power centers in their regions. Looking to the future, there is great potential for cooperation in the areas of digital transformation, industry 4.0, and hydrogen. As a country with vast territory, Kazakhstan can provide green electricity for green hydrogen," said Hermes.
Mediator and promoter of interstate cooperation
The Honorary Consul serves as a bridge between two countries. In this case, Oliver Hermes supports interstate cooperation, the maintenance and development of interstate relations between Kazakhstan and North Rhine-Westphalia, particularly through economic, trade, and investment promotion. He also represents the Republic of Kazakhstan at events and receptions.
Wilo in Kazakhstan
Wilo has been successful in Kazakhstan for some time. With the opening of the Almaty branch in 2018, the Wilo Group once again emphasized the importance of the country. The Almaty branch serves as a platform for Central Asia and is therefore the starting point for business activities in the region. Overall, Central Asia impresses with its strategically advantageous location as a bridge between Europe and Asia.
