Setting the pace in economic cooperation with Latin America
The LADW is committed to the consistent expansion of economic cooperation between Germany and Latin America. It provides tangible impetus towards economic cooperation with Latin American countries, and at the same time calls for and promotes political support for bilateral cooperation.
In addition, the LADW initiates and supports measures to strengthen the competitiveness and security of investment of German value-creation chains in Latin American countries and those of Latin American companies in Europe.
LADW as mediator between politics and economy
Setting of impulses
The economic policy interests of German companies vis-à vis-Latin America are bundled at the LADW and addressed at the highest level.We selectively and pragmatically work on topics significant to German business and industry and, with exclusive events, continuously advance projects for cooperation with Latin America.
The LADW brings together leading representatives of German business with a strong interest in Latin America. LADW members contribute their vision, expertise and energy towards the LADW’s successful endeavours.
Representation of interests
Since 2015, the LADW has been continuously representing the interests of German business vis-à-vis its partners from politics and the economy in Germany and Latin America.The business-driven body is hosted by the Federation of German Industries (BDI). As the umbrella organization of German industry and industry-related services, the BDI speaks for more than 100,000 enterprises with around 8 million employees.
Together with leading business associations in Germany, the LADW is a sponsor of the Latin America Initiative of German Business (LAI).
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How are we organised?
Committee members sit on the boards of leading German companies and represent a balance of sectoral interests. Its members include DAX companies as well as medium-sized ones, and these are supported by an office at the BDI in Berlin.
So the LADW remains agile and is able to keep up with the latest developments in cooperation and move efficiently in the very dynamic economic-policy environment.
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Thomas Schmall
Member of the Group Board of Management Volkswagen AG
Thomas Schmall has been a member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG responsible for Technology since 2021. In this role, he is responsible throughout the Group for all activities at Volkswagen Group Components, the cross-brand responsibility for the development, procurement and production of battery cells and systems as well as Charging and Energy. Born in Frankfurt in 1964, Thomas Schmall studied business management and labour and organisational psychology at the University of Giessen.
The business administration graduate joined Volkswagen Group in 1991. Following posts in industrial engineering in Wolfsburg, Mexico and South Africa, Schmall moved to Volkswagen do Brasil in 1999, becoming manager of the Curitiba plant one year later. In 2003, he joined Volkswagen Slovakia as Board member for Technology, becoming Chairman of the Volkswagen Slovakia Board of Management based at the Bratislava plant two years later. In 2007, he was appointed CEO of Volkswagen do Brasil. He also held the post of Vice President of the São Paulo German-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce between 2009 and 2013 and was then elected President of the Chamber until March 2015. Schmall was appointed member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management responsible for Components effective 1 January 2015 and he has been CEO of Volkswagen Group Components, an autonomous corporate unit under the umbrella of Volkswagen AG, since 2019.
The German Economy is Counting on Latin America
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What we do
The LADW formulates the Latin American concerns of German companies and has them tabled on the agenda.
Themes are substantiated by relevance and demand in working groups; positions are developed and approaches to solutions addressed with appropriate communication measures.
By such means the LADW has an opinion-forming effect and conveys differentiated perspectives and visions for ongoing development of bilateral cooperation.
The LADW promotes the interests of the German economy with high-calibre activities and events, cultivates ongoing exchange with political and economic stakeholders in Germany and Latin America, and initiates and shapes bilateral cooperation-approaches and think-tank processes.
The LADW provides economic policymakers with information on Latin America and provides them with tangible advice and support.
The LADW unceasingly supports and contributes to the success of important events of Latin American relevance, such as official visits and the trips of German delegations.
Every year, the LADW makes a major contribution to the German-Brazilian Economic Meeting organised by the BDI and CNI.
For example, LADW Chairman Thomas Schmall is Co-Chairman on the German business side of the German-Brazilian Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation, which meets in the context of the Economic Meeting.
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Talk to us
© Christian Kruppa
RAFAEL HADDAD
Managing Director
Born in Brazil, Mr Haddad studied law and has been active for bilateral cooperation between Latin America and Germany since 2000. He was, for instance, responsible for external trade activities among other things in the German-Brazilian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, São Paulo.
From 2006 onwards, he established and managed the representative office for the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad in Mercosur as well as governmental offices and institutions for the region in Frankfurt am Main. In 2010 he came to Berlin as Managing Director of the yet-unfounded BDI Brazil Board. He has been Managing Director of the LADW since 2015.
