125 Years of the OAV

Unnoticed by the press, 16 merchants and one Higher Regional Court judge met that evening at the Hotel Hamburger Hof on Jungfernstieg.

This meeting was preceded by an initiative launched by Carl Illies just eleven days earlier: he spoke in favour of setting up an association to promote German interests in East Asia, based in Hamburg.

As a result, the owners or partners of some of the most prominent companies involved in the growing East Asian trade at the time came together and founded “an association for German interests in East Asia, based in Hamburg”:

• Gustav L. Albers und H. W. Heitmann (Kunst & Albers)

• Charles von Bose (Carlowitz & Co.)

• Julius Brüssel (Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Group Corp.)

• Albert F. Gültzow (Siemssen & Co.)

• Carl Illies und Max W. Kochen (C. Illies & Co.)

• Hermann Jebsen (Herm. Jebsen & Co.)

• Philipp Adolf Lieder ((H. Mandl & Co.)

• Eduard Lorenz Meyer und Adolf Lasse (Arnold Otto Meyer)

• H. C. Eduard Meyer und J. Hinrich Garrels (Meyer & Co., Hongkong und Shanghai)

• Paul Pickenpack (Pickenpack, Thies & Co.)

• Wilhelm Reiners (Reiners & Co.)

• Carl Rohde (Carl Rohde & Co.)

• and Otto Rudorf from the Higher Regional Court

The first Ostasiatisches Liebesmahl took place on 16 March 1901; the subsequent annual event cycle is based on the model of the “Annual Dinner” of the China Association.

Accordingly, the association’s statutes refer to the “creation and facilitation of social interaction among members and the discussion of German interests in meetings held as regularly as possible.” A “Social Committee” is established specifically for this purpose, initially consisting of Julius Brüssel and Wilhelm Reiners. Its role is to organise and promote professional and social exchange in a targeted manner, to prepare regular meetings and events such as the Ostasiatisches Liebesmahl, and to bring together the interests of the members.

The unusual designation Liebesmahl from today’s perspective is based on a term that was widespread in 19th-century (musical) literature, for example in the works of Novalis, Gottfried Keller and Richard Wagner. It originally describes a solemn, spiritually inspired meal of peace and reconciliation with early Christian roots: the shared sacramental meal of a community.

While the first Ostasiatisches Liebesmahl was held at the Hotel Hamburger Hof, the Hamburg Rathaus has frequently served as the venue for this traditional event in more recent times. There is, however, one exception in recent history: in 2009, Schuppen 52 on Australiastraße in the Port of Hamburg becomes the venue. There had already been disagreements within the OAV beforehand, as many members considered the old warehouse insufficiently representative.

Separate Chinese and Japanese committees were established as early as the OAV's initial years, leading to the founding of the Department for the Import of Goods from China in 1915.

Country Committees were not established until 1940, when trade with East Asia faces particular challenges due to the Second World War. The committee work is carried out in close coordination with the OAV Office, and meetings are held at the association’s premises of the Gesellschaft Harmonie in Hamburg. Over time, committees are established for South, North and Central China, the Dutch East Indies, Thailand and Japan, among others. From the 1950s onwards, East Asia proves to be too large and heterogeneous a field of activity for the OAV, and the focus of its work increasingly shifts towards the Country Committees.

Since the turn of the millennium, the Country Committees have formed a key focus of the association’s work and thus the backbone of the OAV. They continue to be the source of practical initiatives and ideas. Eckhard Rohkamm, Chairman of the OAV from 2003 to 2008, described the Country Committees as the “workshops of the OAV.”

“Eleven years have passed since the last Liebesmahl. In view of the present circumstances, the Board considered that the time for a traditional Liebesmahl had not yet arrived. But we could not let the founding days of the association 50 years ago pass without commemoration” – these words are spoken by Chairman Alfred Albers on 11 March 1950 before 432 participants. To resume the Ostasiatisches Liebesmahl, participants once again gather at the Hotel Atlantic. The ceremonial speech is delivered by Wilhelm Haas, State Secretary at the Federal Chancellery of Konrad Adenauer.

The association’s milestone anniversary follows a turbulent period in the wake of the 1948 currency reform, when the continued existence of the association is temporarily at risk due to inflation-related pressures. Among other measures, the OAV manages to overcome this situation thanks to the willingness of the management to reduce their remuneration for three months.

In spring 1952, the OAV proposes to the German Federal Government the establishment of a China Committee of German industry in order to promote trade in view of the UN embargo policy. However, this proposal encounters political resistance, as such a committee could be interpreted as an attempt to circumvent the UN embargo.

Instead, in July 1952, the Federal Government proposes the creation of a general Ost-Ausschuss, which would also address trade with China. Following controversial discussions, the Ost-Ausschuss was founded on 9 October 1952 in Cologne under the umbrella of the BDI. Its management is largely entrusted to the OAV and the VDMA. This initiative is crucial in positioning the OAV at the centre of the Federal Republic of Germany’s economic policy. The working group holds its first meeting in Hamburg in December 1952 and remains closely associated with the OAV in the decades that follow.

In addition to the Ostasiatisches Liebesmahl, the OAV has always hosted various informal social gatherings without an official setting, table speeches or ceremonial addresses.

These events take place at changing venues, including the Curio-Haus, the Uhlenhorster Fährhaus, the Hotel Esplanade and the Palast-Hotel. One of the first gatherings of this kind was held in 1903 by 21 “Ostasiensegler” at the Ratsweinkeller. Other events include beer evenings, dance celebrations and the “Curryessen” held several times a year for members and friends.

This tradition of an informal East Asia evening continues with the “Kleines Liebesmahl”: since its premiere on 4 November 1953, it has taken place every year following the General Assembly, including a recent expert presentation.

The venue has also changed with the times: after being based in Hamburg for many decades, the Kleines Liebesmahl now travels throughout Germany to member companies. In 2015, it was hosted by Trumpf GmbH in Ditzingen, in 2016 by Jungheinrich AG in Hamburg, and in 2017 at the Allianz Forum on Pariser Platz in Berlin. In 2018, it took place at the International Maritime Museum in Hamburg, in 2019 at Freudenberg Chemical Specialities SE in Munich, and in 2020 and 2021 it was held digitally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, it returned to Hamburg at the former Hauptzollamt, followed by Frankfurt in 2023 at AKA Ausfuhrkredit-Gesellschaft mbH, and back to Hamburg in 2024 at Hapag-Lloyd AG.

While the participation of women in the East Asian business community is taken for granted today, the traditional event remained an exclusive gentlemen’s dinner for many decades.

For the first time officially, female companions of invited members were welcomed to the 80th Liebesmahl in 2000. In 1964, several members of the diplomatic corps were already welcomed as the first women to attend – however, only because they could not be refused entry.

In 1976, another woman without an official function attended: Lady Mary Soames was married to the keynote speaker Sir Christopher Soames (then Vice-President of the European Commission) and was also the daughter of Winston Churchill. Sitting beside her was Almut Leibkutsch, wife of the OAV Chairman. Both were treated merely as “honorary gentlemen” – fortunately, those days are now over.

1989: First Keynote Speaker from East Asia at the Liebesmahl

Since the 2010s, Liebesmahl keynote speakers have frequently come from East Asia. The first speaker in this tradition was Arifin Siregar in 1989, then Governor of the Central Bank of Indonesia and later Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia (1988–1993).

Based on a joint initiative by the OAV, the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), and the then Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl, the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) was founded in 1993. The German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) are also part of the network.

The APA represents the interests of German business in the Asia-Pacific region and serves as a platform for discussions on economic policy. Its initial supporting organisations were the OAV, BDI and DIHK. In 1999, the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA) and the Association of German Banks (BdB) joined as additional partners.

Objectives of the APA

• Strengthening economic cooperation with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region

• Promoting trade and investment between Germany and Asia

• Jointly shaping transformation processes guided by the principles of “partnership, innovation and sustainability”

• Representing the economic interests of German companies vis-à-vis policymakers

• Providing a platform for exchange with partners and initiatives from Asia as well as political decision-makers

• Supporting Germany’s image in Asia and promoting Germany as a business location

• Engaging in economic policy events and government visits, as well as organising the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK)

2001: Founding of the OAV Young Leaders

Today known as the OAV Young Leaders, the initial OAV junior association was founded in 2001 at the OAV headquarters in Hamburg. Extensive preparations preceded the establishment, particularly by Presidium member Jürgen Habertag. This was followed by a short pilot phase until 2004.

The Young Leaders of companies active in Asia continue to be nominated by OAV members themselves to this day.

As the importance of young Asia experts has grown significantly, the Young Leaders have become more closely integrated into the work of the OAV. Since 2017, they have held their own seat on the Presidium, giving greater visibility and influence to their topics and perspectives.

Their own initiatives include the Round Table Industrie format, established in 2017. It serves as a platform for the exchange of different industry sectors, such as mechanical and automotive engineering, on current Asia-related topics and was first held at Trumpf GmbH in Ditzingen.

As membership in the OAV Young Leaders is limited to individuals up to the age of 40, a successor organisation for former Young Leaders, the OAV Alumni, has been in development since the end of 2024.

The year marking the OAV’s 120th anniversary was shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. The celebration was postponed from March to early November and was ultimately not held until 2023 due to the ongoing pandemic situation. An additional cultural highlight planned for the anniversary year — a festive concert at the Elbphilharmonie featuring a commissioned composition — also had to be cancelled because of the pandemic.