"Gate to the Region" Center Opens at FRA to Help New Residents in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main Region;

Fraport AG Supports Pilot Project Under the "Metropolitana" Initiative

Frankfurt, Germany (ots) - In cooperation with pme Familenservice GmbH, Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide is opening the "Gate to the Region" service center to help new residents and their families moving from abroad or other parts of Germany to get quickly established in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region. Located at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) - the international gateway to one of Europe's most dynamic regions - this orientation service center offers free information and advice on topics such as government formalities, housing, child care, schools, language training, and cultural activities. "Gate to the Region" is a pilot project conceived under the "Metropolitana" (see www.frankfurt-main.ihk.de) initiative, which has been set up by area companies and the Frankfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Frankfurt) to strengthen the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region's position as a leading international location. Dr. Wilhelm Bender, Fraport AG's executive board chairman and chairman of Metropolitana FrankfurtRheinMain e.V., unveiled the "Gate to the Region" project at a press conference today at FRA.

"Gate to the Region" underscores the hospitality and cultural openness of Frankfurt/Rhine-Main, as well as Fraport AG 's commitment to its home region. Moving to a different town or a foreign, culturally different land to start a new job presents enormous challenges. The "Gate to the Region" center serves as the newcomer's link or gateway to the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region. In particular, the center offers comprehensive assistance in the following areas:

> Advice and assistance in dealing with public authorities and government offices;

> Advice and assistance in questions concerning the legal position of aliens (labor law, alien law);

> Assistance to find housing;

> Basic advice on child care facilities and services (day care mother, nanny, baby-sitter, private and institutional care, au pair, vacation camps, or other recreational packages during school holidays, type of school);

> Basic advice on eldercare;

> Information regarding insurance coverage (car, health, legal expenses, life, and old-age pension insurance);

> Arranging for courses introducing you to the German culture;

> Translation services, language courses, special language courses;

> Information about migration centers, multicultural centers, cultural programs, church and community centers;

> "Nice-to-do" courses;

> Cultural activities in the region (concerts, sightseeing, events, etc.).

Frankfurt Airport's "Gate to the Region" service center for new residents is located on the Departures Level (Level 2) of Terminal 1 in Room 2127. Initially, the center will be open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00 and on Tuesday and Thursday from 14:00 to 17:00. The "Gate-to-the-Region" service center can be contacted at: Tel.: +49 69 690 20711; E-mail: gate-to-the-region@fraport.de; Internet: www.fraport.de.

ots Original Text Service: Fraport AG

Internet: http://www.presseportal.de