Obama praises ‘spirit of innovation’ as USA Pavilion opens at Hannover Messe

President tours state economic development booth as part of two-day visit to global trade event.

By Bob Vavra, Content Manager, CFE Media April 25, 2016

HANNOVER, GERMANY: President Obama officially opened the Partner Country USA pavilion at Hannover Messe 2016 Monday morning, April 25, and touted the "spirit of innovation" that brought a record number of American companies to Germany for the world’s largest industrial trade fair.

More than 460 U.S. companies are at the show, which is not just the highest total ever for a U.S. delegation, but the largest contingent from any past Partner Country.

Accompanied by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Obama was greeted in the USA pavilion by the workers from more than 40 state and regional economic development groups who have come to Hannover Messe looking for foreign direct investment in their states and to help American companies expand manufacturing operations globally.

"So much of the global economy is driven through the spirit of innovation," Obama said, "and then by turning those ideas into jobs." The president said he was taking the opportunity to come here and buy made in America.

"I want to thank Angela and everyone at Hannover Messe for this great event," he added. "We hope to see more partnerships, more trade, and more shows from this show."

Obama and Merkel toured three halls at Hannover Messe, including state pavilions for Ohio, Kentucky and California, as well as companies such as Siemens, Phoenix Contact, Kuka, ABB and Harting, which received the 2016 Hermes Award for innovation at Sunday’s opening ceremony.

Once the tour was over and Obama and Merkel left the fairgrounds, the intense security that had surrounded the visit eased and Hannover Messe settled into its role as a trade fair. More than 200,000 people are expected to attend Hannover Messe in 2016, with more than 6,000 exhibitors on display throughout the fairgrounds.

Bob Vavra, content manager, CFE Media, bvavra@cfemedia.com.

ONLINE extra

See additional coverage from Hannover Messe linked below.