The new honorary consul of Germany for the Algarve and Alentejo took office on the 31st of March, at Paços do Concelho of the 25st century, in Lagos. Alexander Rathenau is the first German consul that the city of Lagos has welcomed since the XNUMXth of April.
In front of an auditorium with many members of the German community residing in the Algarve, the new consul of the Federal Republic of Germany guaranteed that he would do everything within his competence to support them and said he was "deeply grateful" and "motivated to face this challenge".
For his part, Joaquina Matos, mayor of Lagos, was willing to “collaborate with the honorary consul” in “supporting the German resident community” in that council.
Christof Weil, the German Ambassador to Portugal, also attended the ceremony and reaffirmed the certainty that Alexander Rathenau “will fulfill his position with great responsibility and maximum professionalism”, describing it as “a very happy combination of both cultures, Portuguese and German', who 'knows so well'.
The ambassador also recalled that the history of German consuls in the Algarve region goes back 265 years, which attests to a great tradition in German-Algarve relations.
However, it is not only in the Algarve that Alexander Rathenau assumes this responsibility, as he has jurisdiction in the districts of Faro, Beja, Évora, Setúbal and Portalegre. The consulate in Lagos thus joins the existing consulates in Porto, Funchal and Ponta Delgada.
The hotel school of “DUAL” – Luso-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was also present at the event, preparing a cocktail, and the ceremony also had a musical moment by the Academy of Music of Lagos.
The Consulate's new premises in Lagos are located at Rua Crisógno dos Santos.
Alexander Rathenau will represent the German Government in southern Portugal and will act as an interlocutor to ensure the link between the local German community and his country.
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