The German-African Business Association (Afrika-Verein) is the nationwide, cross-industry foreign trade association of German companies and institutions interested in economic cooperation with the countries of the African continent, while the Sub-Saharan Africa Initiative of German Business (SAFRI) promotes sustainable and partnership-based economic relations between Germany and Sub-Saharan Africa.
"The cooperation in international interest groups and national associations is a central pillar of our political networking and our aspiration to be a ‘Connected Champion’ as the Wilo Group," said Hermes. "With its enormous raw material and human resources, the African continent will grow into a new economic power in the 21st century - whether we as Europeans contribute to this development or not. Africa is not waiting for us! In order not to lose touch and to be able to make competitive cooperation offers to the countries of Africa, politics and business must now work together resolutely."
With platforms in North, East, South and West Africa, Wilo is now an established player in the pan-African market and has been commissioned on major projects such as the irrigation of the arid Toshka region in Egypt. The company has made successive investments in the sustainable development of sales infrastructures and the expansion of production capacities. The hub in Kenya, for example, was recently expanded to include modern assembly, testing and training capacities.
By joining the board committees of SAFRI and the Africa Association, Hermes is emphasising his commitment to the region. The appointment also stems from the successful business conference "Building Bridges - Africa" that Wilo organised in May 2023 under the patronage of the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Svenja Schulze.
