Hessen-Wisconsin relations renewed on cruise

SAN DIEGO -- About 40 members of Wisconsin's delegation to the 2008 BIO international convention joined their counterparts from the German state of Hessen Wednesday morning on a breakfast cruise of San Diego Harbor, which is home to a giant U.S. Navy base as well as commercial shipping ports.

The cruise, sponsored by Wisconsin's sister state of Hessen, has become an annual networking event at BIO for members of both delegations. Frankfurt is located in Hessen, as well as some of Germany's largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Martin Herkstroter, chief executive officer of HA Hessen Agentur GmbH, spoke to the Wisconsin crowd. The Wisconsin delegation was led by Commerce Secretary Jack Fischer.

"Wisconsin's position in the global economy and our long-term relationship with Hessen make these kinds of exchanges extremely valuable," Fischer said.