The theme for ECRF 2011 is: "World-wide trading needs world-wide registers".

The theme refers to the fact that in today’s world there are increasing challenges to be met due to the changes in the world in which business is conducted. From the perspective of the Business Register it has to ever increase the horizon that it monitors due to the dynamics of International Business. One of the most important objectives is to reduce financial risks in trading in this new world.

I hope that many of you will attend this important event and will take the opportunity to participate in the exchange of experiences and information in business registration matters and meet colleagues of different jurisdictions.

This event is hosted by the Land North Rhine-Westphalia on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany and their Joint Commission of the Federation and the „Länder“ for Data Processing and Rationalization. North Rhine-Westphalia is currently holding the presidency of the ECRF from June 2010 to June 2011 and is very pleased to host and organize the congress and to receive you in Germany.

We are looking forward meeting you in Bonn!

Roswitha Müller-Piepenkötter
Minister of Justice
of North Rhine-Westphalia