"70 years of HKI - helping to shape technical progress - innovative and sustainable - a good reason to look back and into the future. Globalisation and digitalisation are both a task and an opportunity for our industry, and this requires a strong Europe," said HKI President Christiane Wodtke at the annual general meeting of the Home, Heating and Kitchen Technology Industry Association.

Particularly noteworthy: The visit of the Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Mr Oliver Wittke - representing Federal Minister Altmaier. This visit underlines the commitment of value-oriented politicians who are committed to society and the importance of constructive dialogue between politics and business.

Parliamentary State Secretary Oliver Wittke inspired the audience with his keynote speech on "Prospects for the European Union". His lecture was a topical, highly interesting reflection on the European Union and he portrayed the European Union as a successful model for peace and prosperity. The importance of the event for the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy was also underlined by the participation of the Parliamentary State Secretary Thomas Bareiß.
On the second day of the event, the focus was then on the ordinary general meeting with a series of exciting presentations by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Brasche (TH Brandenburg), Patrick Meinhardt (Bundesverband mittelständische Wirtschaft) and Mathias Dubbert (Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag) on the economic, political and social development of Europe. 

Frank Kienle, Managing Director of the HKI Industrieverband, explained that the association is economically and structurally well positioned for the challenges of the future and is valued as a contact partner by politicians at national and international level. "Especially under difficult economic and political conditions, it is important to continue and strengthen the constructive dialogue between politics and industry.
The closing words of HKI President Christiane Wodtke on this outstanding event were at the same time a passionate appeal for Europe: "The future will be a great challenge - Europe stands for peace, prosperity and freedom of movement. Together we Europeans are stronger in global competition - give Europe your voice."