Heinrich von Pierer, head of Siemens AG supervisory board, handed over the chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) to Jürgen Hambrecht, chairman of the board of executive directors of BASF Aktiengesellschaft, on July 18. Mr Pierer had headed the APA since its formation in 1993.

Mr Hambrecht spent many years in Hong Kong and was responsible for the Asia Pacific region on BASF’s board for five years. The qualified chemist has headed BASF since May 2003. In his capacity as chairman of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business, he will be aided by its five supporting institutions: The Federation of German Industries (BDI, the Association of German Banks (BDB), the Federation of German Wholesale and Foreign Trade (BGA), the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) and the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV). APA is also involved in the Asia Pacific region via the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK). Some 1,500 German companies are active in the committee.