An interview with Christofer Burger, Consul General of Germany in Miami
Christofer Burger, Consul General of Germany in Miami, started his role in August 2023. Since then, he has collaborated on multiple trade missions, promoted direct investment, and worked to strengthen ties between Germany and Florida. Burger’s previous role was spokesperson for the Federal Foreign Office. He also served as the deputy head of mission at the German Embassy in Nicaragua and as deputy Consul General in Iraq. We spoke with Consul General Burger about the evolving economic partnership between Miami and Germany.
How would you characterize the economic relationship between Germany and Miami?
To be perfectly honest, I think relations between Germany and Miami, so far, do not reflect our full potential. Germany is the fourth largest trading partner of the U.S., but only number eight to Florida. I think that has to do with the fact that German companies are very focused on manufacturing, which is a key industry here. The connection with Latin America and the importance of Miami as an international transportation hub are definitely two factors that make Miami very attractive. The huge market potential that Florida itself has, the purchasing power, the incredible growth dynamic, construction, and the pro-business environment are all things that make this an attractive place to be.
Describe the trade dynamic between Germany and Florida.
Germany’s strong suit is obviously our largest exports to Florida so far: cars, like Porsche, Volkswagen, BMW, etc. Traditionally, one sector where we’ve had very strong ties with Florida is aerospace. Companies like Airbus and Lufthansa Technik have a global maintenance hub here where they provide service to airlines in the Americas…. Many people do not know that many of the cruise ships stationed in Miami were built in Germany… Another area where we have strong connections with Florida is lasers and photonics, which is becoming even more relevant due to the many new applications in defense, communications, and medicine… We have 10 big German logistics companies with major hubs here, including DHL. Some, like Hellmann, are more specialized, serving German manufacturers in the United States and Mexico, and providing specialized logistics for the food industry.
What are the important trade trends with Florida and Miami?
I think the trade statistics are interesting but also a little misleading. If you look at German exports to Florida, number one is cars, which is obvious. Then you have aircraft parts, which makes sense, but then there’s horses. I wasn’t aware of this before, but the winter equestrian capital of the world is in Wellington, Florida, and about 40,000 to 50,000 horses spend their winter there. Many of the best horses in the world are bred in Germany, and one of these horses will cost, on average, maybe half a million dollars. So, a few thousand of those horses will make a dent in your trade statistics. It’s not only Canadians wintering here but also German horses.
How does the Consulate help support and facilitate these connections?
We try to help companies that come here by introducing them to potential clients and connecting them with the social services they need. The German American Business Chamber in Miami is a great resource. We are also looking at ways to support German tech startups that want to set up operations here…. The German community here is very large, which tracks with the overall situation in the United States, where German Americans are the largest heritage group. According to the U.S. Census, 13 percent of Americans consider themselves to be German American. While they tend not to stand out – they usually don’t display German flags and aim to be good members of their local communities – this sometimes means we lose track of them quickly.
How have German perceptions of Miami changed?
Germans love Florida. There was a huge influx of German retirees to Florida in the 1980s and ’90s. And to some degree, Florida has been a victim of its own success in that regard. Many Germans still see Florida as a paradise for retirees. However, people are now becoming more aware of Miami’s dynamism and future-oriented development.
