Janusz Kahl, CEO at NordicHouse, participated on June 12-14, 2023 in a meeting of 230 Danish honorary consuls from around the world. Nine years have passed since such a meeting, and for the first time a major part of the meeting, patronized by HRH Crown Prince Frederik, took place outside Copenhagen.
Green conversion with a focus on energy efficiency was one of the highlights of the meeting days in Sønderborg with visits from e.g. in an energy-saving residential district, the world’s longest electric ferry and in companies using energy-saving technologies.
Sønderborg is an example of what can be achieved through collaboration between the public and private sectors. In Sønderborg, the consuls had the opportunity to both hear about the vision of energy efficiency and see it in practice. The consuls also had the opportunity to learn about the city’s efforts towards a green transition, especially thanks to its ambitious goal of becoming the world’s first CO2-neutral area in 2029.
At Sønderborg Castle, the consuls heard about war and peace in Denmark and Europe – past and present, and saw how the majority and minority could live peacefully side by side and function best in the Danish-German border country.
In Copenhagen, the program included getting acquainted with sustainable architecture in Copenhagen, which holds the title of the world capital of architecture in 2023, and a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
On the last day of the visit, an official dinner was held at the Opera with the participation of the DKH Princely Couple – Frederik and Mary.
Denmark has 341 honorary consuls in 129 countries. Honorary consuls help the Danish embassies, e.g. civil service tasks and commercial matters.
Honorary consulates are organizationally subordinate to the Danish embassy, which they help in solving tasks in the local area. Consulates are often located in important port cities and tourist areas. Their typical tasks include helping Danish citizens in emergency situations abroad (e.g. lost passport, accident, imprisonment, etc.) and helping the foreign service in export promotion or Public Diplomacy.
Honorary consulates are headed by an honorary consul (consul general, consul, vice-consul or consular agent). The position is unpaid, and the consul is not employed or delegated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but appointed in his own name and profession from which he supports himself. Often, an honorary consul is, for example, a businessman or self-employed lawyer who can accommodate a consulate.