Today saw the start of the third Fehmarnbelt Days at HafenCity University in Hamburg. The university’s President, Dr. Walter Pelka, launched the event which was attended by political representatives and the organisers from Denmark, Germany and Sweden.
The purpose of this year’s conference is to discuss the framework conditions for promoting the further development of a cross-border region in the wake of the establishment of the Fehmarnbelt fixed link.
The conference will also provide a platform for the development of new ideas and solutions to meet the future challenges.
International interest
This, therefore, is the reason why representatives from politics, business and stakeholders and members of the general public from Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Austria and Italy have come together in Hamburg to participate in conferences, meetings and discussions. FBD 2016 is also a good platform for knowledge sharing, information gathering and for creating new or expanding existing networks.
In his welcoming speech, the host of the conference, Hamburg’s First Mayor, Olaf Scholz, said that Fehmarnbelt Days was much more than the Fehmarnbelt fixed link. Hamburg wished to strengthen relations between the inhabitants of this border region at a number of different levels. Joint infrastructure projects, research partnerships, educational initiatives and cultural activities will all contribute to the region’s cohesiveness.
The Chairman of the STRING network, Thomas Hansson, Region Skåne, underlined the importance of a strong collaboration between the public and business sectors and educational institutions within the corridor.
Peter Frederiksen, Chairman of Femern A/S, commented on the very strong backing the Fehmarnbelt mega project, enjoys in Germany, Denmark and Sweden.
The Chairman of the Fehmarnbelt Committee, FBC, Reinhard Sager, affirmed that his organisation will not only react to the changes that the Fehmarnbelt will bring about but will actively help to shape the processes.
Siegbert Eisenach, Chairman of the Fehmarnbelt Business Council, FBBC, and Director of the Schwerin Chamber of Commerce, focused on the commercial potential of the more than 600,000 businesses in the corridor between Hamburg and southern Sweden.
An expanding event
A total of 1,000 participants is expected over three days, from Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Austria and Italy. The last FBD 2014 in Copenhagen attracted approximately 750 members of the general public and representatives from politics, business and NGOs.
Fehmarnbelt Days is taking place for the third time following Lübeck in 2012 and Copenhagen in 2014.
At this year’s Fehmarnbelt Days, there are 19 organisations and businesses behind some 30 events, discussions, lectures and symposia.
More details and programme guide are at www.fehmarnbeltdays.com
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Quotes:
Olaf Scholz,First Mayor, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg:
“Fehmarnbelt Days is much more than the Fehmarnbelt fixed link. We wish to strengthen relations between the inhabitants of this border region at a number of different levels. Joint infrastructure projects, research partnerships, educational initiatives and cultural activities will all contribute to our cohesiveness. From this will emerge fresh impetus for development and co-operation in Northern Europe. I’m therefore delighted that Hamburg is hosting Fehmarnbelt Days this year.”
Thomas Hansson, Chairman, STRING partnership, Region Skåne:
“One of the most fundamental parts of STRING is co-operation with central stakeholders in the public sector, business life and universities of our region. To establish networks and concrete projects supporting the overall vision and objectives of STRING is key to a long term and active co-operation. The Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link is a crucial investment for our region, and a catalyst for the region building activities that will help us reach the goals of our collaboration.
Peter Frederiksen,Chairman of the Board, Femern A/S:
“The great interest in Fehmarnbelt Days 2016 in Hamburg underlines the support and the tremendous anticipation with which the Fehmarnbelt tunnel is being met with in Germany, Denmark and Sweden. We look forward to discussing the progress made on both sides of the Fehmarnbelt and the new opportunities that the fixed link will help bring about.”
Reinhard Sager, Chairman, FBC, Landrat:
“We will not just react to the economic and social changes, but will actively help to shape the processes. Fehmarnbelt Days 2016 is an ideal platform for gathering ideas for innovative projects. At its conference, FBC has directed focus on how we can make rural regions between the cities of Hamburg and Copenhagen even more attractive as a vibrant residential area. In this context, we also look at the success stories of other metropolitan regions, and the question of digitisation. Our goal is to create win-win situations through a clever linking of the cities and the intermediate rural regions in the Fehmarnbelt corridor.”
Siegbert Eisenach, Chairman FBBC, Director, IHK zu Schwerin chamber of commerce:
“The Fehmarnbelt region carries excellent potential for cross-border collaborations between the more than 600,000 companies in northern Germany, Denmark and southern Sweden – a large proportion of which is represented by FBBC. We are also working to create the best possible framework conditions for cross-border sharing along the Hamburg-Lübeck/Schwerin-Copenhagen-Malmö axis. Fehmarnbelt Days is a great platform for building new networks and for the debate on the existing framework conditions. FBBC has focused this year on the topic “Business and Science”. I’m therefore looking forward to our event tomorrow, 21 September from 14:00 to 16.30. Under the title “Business and Science. Two worlds. One idea. a common approach?”, a number of high-profile speakers from well-known and innovative companies and various scientific institutions, will recount their experience of cross-border commercial-scientific collaborations.”
