Contact: Cullen Werwie, 608-267-7303
Madison – Governor Scott Walker welcomed the Minister President of the State of Hessen, the Honorable Volker Bouffier, of the Federal Republic of Germany to Wisconsin today. The Minister President’s visit marks the 35th anniversary of the sister-state agreement between Wisconsin and Hessen.
“Willkommen in Wisconsin,” Governor Scott Walker said. “The great bond between Wisconsin and Hessen is strengthened by Minister President Bouffier’s visit. With over 700 Wisconsin companies that export to Germany, this relationship goes deeper than Wisconsin’s proud German heritage. Creating 250,000 jobs in a global economy requires strong economic and cultural relations with foreign nations, and I am proud to announce that Wisconsin’s powerful sister-state agreement with Hessen is reaffirmed today by this meeting and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.”
Governor Walker, Minister President Bouffier, University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly and Justus-Liebig University of Giessen President Joybrato Mukherjee signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Wisconsin System and the Hessen State Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts. The Memorandum of Understanding is a state-to-state cooperation in higher education providing valuable benefits in student exchange between the two states. It continues the agreement signed in 1998.
In addition to the meeting between the Hessian delegation and Governor Walker at the State Capitol today, a State Dinner will be hosted by the Governor and First Lady at the Executive Residence in Maple Bluff.
Located in central Germany, Hessen is home to roughly 6.1 million people. Hessen’s largest city is Frankfurt and has one of the largest and healthiest economies in Europe. Over 210,000 United States citizens live and work in Hessen.
A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding is attached.
