From left: Dr Achim Georg Deja, Dr Dieter Hesel, Datin Zai Nordmann, H.E. Ambassador of Malaysia Datuk Ibrahim Abdullah, Dr Dirk Lorenz-Meyer, Mr Jürgen Staks, Datuk Edgar E. Nordmann, Datuk Ooi Chean See, Mr Timo Prakop, Mr Michael Wolers, Dr Michael Bauer, Mrs Marlis Koch, Mr Matthias Wetzel, Ms Anne Mahn, Dr Herbert D. Jess and Ms Lotta Kellinghusen. (photo taken by Mr Torsten Lindhauer),
The Behn Meyer group of companies has received the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Mutual Cultural Understanding in Malaysia and Germany from the German-Malaysian Society e.V. (DtMG). Assigned annually with a particular thematic focus, this year’s award was dedicated to the role of services, especially trade and its cultural perspective.
The award proclamation acknowledged Behn Meyer’s 170 years of experience in South-East Asia which have served to shape the group’s key asset : understanding local culture. With regional engagement and trust in its local staff members, Behn Meyer is today a well established trading company in Malaysia and its neighbouring ASEAN countries, serving a wide range of industries.
Especially honoured were also the late Mr Peter Thomas and the late Mr Reinhard Schönberg who helped, in particular, to build up Behn Meyer’s business in the then Malaya after the Second World War.
The presentation ceremony was hosted by the Ambassador of Malaysia, H.E. Datuk Ibrahim Abdullah on November 19, 2010 at the Malaysian Embassy in Berlin. Among the 100 guests were Dr. Michael Bauer representing the German Government, the Honorary Consul General of Malaysia Datuk Edgar E. Nordmann and his wife Datin Zai; former German Ambassadors Mr Jürgen Staks and Mr Herbert D. Jess; the German-Malaysian Society’s president Dato’ Dr Achim Georg Deja and executive board member Dr Martina Timmermann. Malaysian musician Datuk Ooi Chean See, who also received award recognition has played a major part in establishing classical concerts in Kuala Lumpur. A very well known conductor, she performed various amazing musical pieces from Malaysia and Germany with the German Chamber Orchestra of Berlin at the event.
Behn Meyer was represented by Mr Michael Wolers and Dr Dirk Lorenz-Meyer from Malaysia together with Mr Matthias Wetzel, Mr Torsten Lindhauer, Mrs Marlis Koch and Ms Lotta Kellinghusen from Germany.
In an inspiring introductory speech, Ms Anne Mahn –scientific research fellow at the Altona Museum in Hamburg, who is also currently writing the third BM history book – mentioned about the corporate activities, spirit and German–Malaysian history of the Behn Meyer Group.
Mr Wolers, who accepted the award on behalf of the BM Group, spoke of Behn Meyer’s long term relationship between Germany and Malaysia. He also elaborated on the Group’s expanding manufacturing activities, which started 11 years ago, when Performance Additives was established. Today, Performance Additives delivers to more than 50 countries and Germany is still a very important recipient. Performance Additives is also in the process of opening a plant in the USA, making it the first Malaysian company in the state of Ohio.
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