There’s a new organization in Cape Coral—focused on promoting European trade, culture and education. The new “European Business Council” will operate under the Chamber of Commerce.
It’s main mission is to establish a network between European and Cape businesses. The council came about after a group of 36 local chamber members traveled to Germany to meet with business leaders– and were interested in what they saw. Council Chairman - Dr. Juergen Hartwich – says there are mutually beneficial connections to be made…

“I think there are companies in Cape Coral that have very good products and they’re maybe interested to connect to German or European countries too to sell their products. I think on both sides we’re looking to bring investors over and give companies from the region here the opportunity to connect to businesses in Germany or other countries in Europe.”

Dr. Hartwich says, after the trip, he was overwhelmed by the response from German companies wanting to do business in southwest Florida …including a microbrewery and cuckoo-clock maker.
The council’s focus goes beyond the economic. Hartwich says they’re also talking to German universities about a satellite campus. For now, he says, the focus is on German-speaking countries – but that will likely broaden to all of Europe sometime soon.