From left: Regino Hawich, Dr. h.c. Manfred Florian Welker, Astrid Arens

Dr. h.c. Manfred Florian Welker is an influential personality who is strongly committed to international exchange and the promotion of economic relations.

Always traveling the world, his heart beats especially for Asia. He has been traveling in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and China for over 30 years and knows the country and its people like no other.

He received the Golden Planet Award for his international commitment to education and peace in Asia. He says: “It is our responsibility to build bridges between cultures and generations and thus create sustainable solutions for a better future.”

He was born the son of master painter Paul Otto Josef Welker and was an honorary civil servant of the city of Frankfurt and a board member of the CDU inner city. Despite a tragic loss in his youth, which left its mark on him, he decided to learn the nursing profession and complete a medical degree. Through the German Development Service (DED), he supported medical development in Cameroon and Indonesia.

Welker’s commitment now focuses on the training of skilled workers. He founded the first international private vocational school in Thailand to counteract the shortage of skilled workers in Germany. Today, he has established vocational schools in eight Asian countries. His achievements were recently honored with the Golden Crown of the Royal House of Thailand.

In addition, as a representative of the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA) in Hesse and Frankfurt, he promotes international exchange, particularly with China.

Dr. Manfred F. Welker combines tradition with innovation in a unique way and is committed to intercultural cooperation and sustainable projects.