The solemn ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Land Parliament, Carola Veit, an official representative of the Senate Chancery, members of the diplomatic and consular corps accredited in Hamburg, and representatives of the economic and cultural elite of the city. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Germany, H.E. Mr. Andrei Giro, also took part, introducing the new Honorary Consul, Rene Schroder, and explaining the major avenues of the work of the Consulate.
Mr. Giro later held a number of meetings with Hamburg businessmen.
The Consular District of the Honorary Consulate in Hamburg comprises two federal states: Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein. Hamburg is the second largest German city (with a population of around 1.8m) and has the second largest sea port in Europe. Around 40 thousand trading companies operate in Hamburg, making the city the main trading place in Germany.
