German Embassy honors MATEC chair
German Ambassador Thomas Ossowski led ceremonies at the German Embassy residence to award the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany to Maschinen und Technick Inc. (MATEC) chairman Dr. Günter Matschuck. Businessmen, government officials and friends from the German community joined the celebrations to honor a distinguished member of the German community in Manila.
A multi-awarded member of the Rotary Club of Manila, the German businessman is also known for his family foundation that grants high school and college scholarships to Filipino youth. Prior to the Order of Merit (Bundesverdienkreuz), Matschuck was also the recipient of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Austria (Goldenes Ehrenzeichen) in 2000 for his efforts in helping enhance Philippine-Austrian business relations.
The co-founder and president of the German-Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Matschuck has been at the helm of MATEC for 35 years, a company that considers itself a “partner” of the Philippines having been the first to place underground transmission lines in the country. Over the years, the German firm has been strengthening its portfolio of renewable energy technologies and services in response to the country’s growing need for alternative energy sources.
Relations between the Philippines and Germany are expected to become stronger following the recent visit of President Noynoy Aquino to Berlin, the last stop for his four-nation European tour. According to the President, Germans are looking at investing in the Philippines, with hopes that the trade volume of $4 billion in 2013 will significantly increase, not to mention create some 55,000 jobs for Filipinos. An estimated 60,000 Filipinos live in Germany, many of them employed in the medical and marine-based industries.
