CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands – February 24, 2014 – Recently, officials of the V.I. Economic Development Authority (VIEDA) hosted Germany’s Consul General Jurgen T. Borsch and his wife Iris Borsch at the offices of the VIEDA on St. Thomas, USVI.

During the meeting, the newly appointed Consul General and VIEDA officials exchanged information about various economic development opportunities particularly for the U.S. Virgin Islands and its marine industry. Germany’s Consul General Borsch is particularly interested in the marine industry of which his country has companies that are interested in this industry. This is the Consul General’s and his wife’s first visit to the Territory.

According to VIEDA’s Assistant Chief Executive Officer-Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Nugent-Hill, “This is an exciting opportunity for the small businesses of the U.S. Virgin Islands to become exposed to business opportunities in Germany.”

Other topics that were discussed included the USVI State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program, VIEDA’s focus on the manufacturing industry to boost economic development in the Territory, and the VIEDA’s Marine Economic Development Council (MEDC).

Consul General Borsch also spoke about organizations such as the German American Chamber of Commerce and the American Chamber of Commerce in Berlin (AmCham) that can provide support to the U.S. Virgin Islands in its economic development endeavors.

“The U.S. Virgin Islands is part of our constituency which also includes Florida, Puerto Rico, and Miami. We are visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands to see the benefits and incentives [this Territory has] for foreign direct investors from Germany. We desire to show people in Germany that the U.S. Virgin Islands is not only paradise, but a place to do business especially in specified industries,” said Germany’s Consul General Jurgen T. Borsch.

Participants of this meeting included VIEDA’s Assistant Chief Executive Officer / Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Nugent-Hill, VIEDA’s Director of the Enterprise Zone Commission Nadine T. Marchena Kean, Special Assistant to VIEDA’s Chief Executive Officer Percival E. Clouden Mr. Frederick Handleman, VIEDA’s Director of Administration and Finance Ernest Halliday, and Mrs. Irmela Neumann of Irmela’s Jewel Studio on St. Thomas.

Germany’s Consul General Borsch and his wife received locally-made products as tokens of appreciation from VIEDA officials for visiting the Territory. Borsch and his wife also toured St. Croix on Thursday and received a sample of honeywine from Ms. Wanda Wright of Wright Apiary on St. Croix. Ms. Wright is a USVI STEP program participant. This program is administered by the VIEDA through a grant authorized by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Since July 2013, Borsch has been the Consul General for Florida, Puerto Rico, Miami, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A consul is an official appointed by the government of one country to look after its commercial interests and the welfare of its citizens in another country.

A consul general a consular officer of the highest rank, as a person who is stationed at a place of considerable commercial importance or supervises other consuls. For more information, contact Marketing and PR Specialist Semele A.C. George at 340.714.1700. To learn more about Germany’s Consul General Jurgen T. Borsch, visit www.germany.info.

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