Word of Greetings by Markus Kopp
CEO, Central German Airports Group
6 September 2007

State premier Prof. Milbradt, Superintendent Mr Nollau, Dean Mr Ullmann, Mr Hermsen,
Venerable guests of honour from the worlds of politics, business and the diplomatic corps, from cultural life and the media in the state capital and the Free State of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt,
Mr Stein, members of staff at companies belonging to the Central German Airports Group, ladies and gentlemen,

Everybody knows the phrase: »Nothing good happens unless we act.« – These words by Erich Kästner, the famous son of Dresden, are quoted on many occasions.
I am very fond of this proverb. Particularly as it summarises the reason for today’s occasion:

• The goal, for example, of providing air traffic at Dresden with the latest equipment, increasing the efficiency at the airport and maintaining the highest levels of security. Without any doubt, this is a good thing.
• Or the resolve with which our shareholders in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt have supported the plans for the repair and extension work here in Dresden and have helped with their realisation. This has been a magnificent example of cooperation in the Central German region!
• Above all, however, the vision of providing all the business sectors in the city and the region with improved, attractive infrastructure… This infrastructure permits growth and opens up opportunities.
• And finally the flawless and timely completion of the work by all those involved in the project:
  • the members of staff and managers of the building companies,
  • the companies responsible for equipping the runway with navigation technology,
  • German Air Traffic Control,
  • and – please forgive my sense of pride – above all the members of staff at the Central German Airports Group, who have planned this ambitious project and carried out their work on schedule.
• All those involved have done something good. My thanks go to all who have played a part in this project!

Ladies and gentlemen, many people thought that it was an absurd idea to build a new runway next to an old one and still manage to keep air traffic operating. It was absolutely clear that even die-hard airport specialists had their doubts about this project.
In this sense it is all the more impressive to see how quickly the project has been completed. Only three years have elapsed from the start of the planning work until today, when we are able to celebrate the opening of the new runway together.

But, ladies and gentlemen, why is a new and longer runway a good thing for Central Germany?
Many are happy to call the 21st century the century of networks. Companies cooperate beyond national borders; cars, computers, aircraft, … even huge bridges are being built – and the work is being carried out in every corner of the globe!
I want to use the term in its figurative sense, but those who are not “online” are missing the boat. Just ask the companies in Saxony’s Silicon Valley! They do not just depend on virtual networks – the network of air traffic, motorways and railways is essential for their survival.

So the degree of access to these networks partly determines the number of jobs available, the volume of export orders and, in the final resort, the degree of prosperity in a country. Of course none of this would be possible without clever minds or motivated people. But it is also important to create ideal supporting conditions.
Ideal access means having the best possible infrastructure available. Ladies and gentlemen, infrastructure is a crucial element. What conclusion did the World Travel and Tourism Council reach in its vision for the millennium? I quote:
»Because the increase in the number of passengers is unstoppable, it is clear that the failure to expand and modernise infrastructure is perhaps the greatest problem facing the travel and tourism sector, if it is going to fulfil its potential for promoting prosperity and creating jobs.«> End of quotation.
Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt want to avoid this kind of failure. This is why both states are investing in their infrastructure. If infrastructure is poor, the intrinsic value of a location drops.
A glance at Asia will demonstrate how topical my conclusion is. The eyes of the whole world are focussed on this continent. Why do you think that China is developing at a more dynamic pace than India?
As a former member of the Lufthansa group, I saw with my own eyes that China has primarily moved ahead of India because it has always placed great importance on maintaining attractive infrastructure and expanding it consistently.

This demonstrates how important it is to invest in the future and the future potential of a country. As a region we cannot afford to allow our development to lag behind in the network embracing the whole of Germany.
The Free State of Bavaria – the second most attractive state in Germany – received subsidies from the financial equalisation scheme between the federal government and the states for 38 years. It made good use of them. Today it is one of the top regions in Germany. We are also seizing this opportunity, for we too want to be right at the top in ten or twenty years’ time.
This is no illusion – it is a vision – with a real chance of being fulfilled. Dresden already has a lower unemployment rate than Gelsenkirchen, for example.
The companies belonging to the Central German Airports Group share this vision of a dynamic region. They see their work and the quality of the infrastructure that they provide as a vital element in the quality of the Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt region as a whole.

And so on the heels of the new runway and the second intercontinental runway at Leipzig/Halle Airport, which has recently been completed, the third efficient runway operated by the Central German Airports Group begins its working life today.
We saw how well this system of three runways works on the four weekends when Dresden Airport was completely closed. Many flights were diverted to Leipzig/Halle and workers from Dresden helped their colleagues at Leipzig.
The Central German Airports Group has proved its ability to operate in a unique way in Germany – as a beneficial and successful model of cross-state cooperation. Our gratitude goes out to those who gave birth to this idea: the state premier and Mr Stein. The holding company benefits the whole region and also sees itself as part of the European network.

Both airports at Leipzig/Halle and Dresden shine as beacons in a region, which now includes areas in neighbouring countries like Lower Silesia and North Bohemia.
The European Union is transcending the Europe of insular regions in past eras. Integration is moving forward, both politically and economically – with a single market and the rediscovery of shared cultural regions.
The Central German Airports Group welcomes this development. Our infrastructure is open to all. We hope that even more people will fly to Saxony as a result … and land on this new runway.

This region deserves to become more and more attractive from day to day. In this sense, 6th September 2007 is yet another key date. I trust that this new runway will fulfil all our expectations and will benefit the city and the region.
Just as a portal on the Internet enjoys growing numbers of users, so may the Dresden runway become a portal, which is frequently visited by business travellers, tourists and freight operators in the real European transport network!
This comes with my best wishes for its success!