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3.3.1 Of the approximately 30 resources in the IBD Program, 16 are based in Berlin with 14 based in the three Consulates. Three aspects of our trade presence in Germany need to be considered by management: location of resources; alternate delivery models; and total resource requirements. The prime post system requires that all officers cover the entire country. While this system works relatively well, there are limitations to the coverage that can be provided given the size of the country, its regional diversity and the value of its economy. Geographically, most businesses and industry are located outside of Berlin. There is a tendency for officers to focus on the regions where they are located, thus detracting from the prime post system by giving other regions less attention. There is a case to be made to bolster the Munich and Düsseldorf Consulates while Hamburg and other locations could be staffed by LES supervised from Berlin (such models already exist in other countries). This scenario would require a combination of incremental resources to the Program as a whole, re-allocations from Berlin and Hamburg and establishment of stand alone Trade Offices staffed with LES. The Mission needs to work with the Trade Commissioner Service Overseas Operations Division (TCS) in its global evaluation of trade resources to determine the optimum resource base for Germany. At the same time, the Mission should reassess from a strategic perspective the optimum geographical deployment of resources irrespective of the status quo, and then develop the corresponding implementing strategy.
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