On his trip to Turkey, German Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) and a delegation of corporate executives want to stabilize the country's inflation-plagued economy. The Turks are particularly keen on a project: a huge new high-speed train network, built by Siemens and financed by the German state.

Sometimes things change abruptly within days on a global political stage. Turkey is such a case: even recently, the authoritarian regime of President Recep Erdogan German politicians considered too sensitive to be there.

But since last week Erdogan is an investigator and chief prosecutor against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Since the journalist Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murdered at the consulate in Istanbul, the head of state has been campaigning as a champion of human rights and press freedom - terms that Western politicians have long failed to associate with Erdogan.

In these troubled times Altmaier makes his way to Ankara. On board: three dozen business people, parliamentarians and civil servants. Even before the disappearance of the Saudi Arabian regime critic, the German government had decided on a change of course on the Turkish question. Erdogan had helped by releasing a number of political prisoners from Germany from his prisons.

Erdogan is in desperate need of support: with inflation at 25 percent, Turkish companies are losing their capital, citizens are losing purchasing power and the economy is rushing towards recession.

Altmaier wants to set an example with his economic stumbling block

Altmaier wants to do his part to ensure that the hopeful emerging market between Europe and Asia does not smear. Prior to his trip, he told SPIEGEL: "The country has been a reliable growth market over the last few years, and we have an interest in keeping it that way and not creating new uncertainties or instability on Europe's southeastern flank."

Altmaier wants to set a sign with his eco-nomad, that one does not want to let the country hang. The union man is worried about the German companies and their investments. "One part is entrepreneurial risk, and another part can be covered by the traditional instrument of foreign trade policy, the Hermes loan guarantee," says Altmaier. So you want to create some security for German exporters.

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Turkey: Peter Altmaier and Joe Kaeser promote railway project

Altmaier wants to meet with the Minister of Finance and the son-in-law of the President, Berat Albayrak, at the very beginning of his two-day journey. Then meetings with the Minister of Trade and the Minister of Energy are planned. Altmaier will open an energy conference and also the Joint Trade Commission, which should have held its first meeting years ago, if not for the political disturbances between the two countries.

The most concrete concern will be talked Altmaier with his Turkish counterparts and the boss of Siemens: He wants to negotiate a billions of euros railway project. The travel delegation will therefore also include Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser, whose group is intended to significantly promote the development of the local rail network.

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In addition to energy projects, rail modernization is the largest project on the agenda in Ankara with a volume of 35 billion euros. "Ultimately, both countries will benefit, Turkey through more stability and we through more economic growth," says Altmaier. The SPIEGEL had reported in September on the railway plans. This also concerns the question of whether Germany hedges the project with a Hermes guarantee or even co-finances it with a government loan.

So far there is a good 500 km long connection between Ankara and Istanbul as a high-speed line, which was built together with Siemens. The trains travel at speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour between the two metropolises and require four hours for this.

Many other routes are outdated, they are originally from the legendary Baghdad Railway, which was built by the then German Emperor and the Sultan. Siemens boss Kaeser thus ties in with historical times, in which both countries maintained close relations.

The boss of the group can use the distraction with Altmaier in Ankara well: He had to take in recent days heavy criticism, because he has considered for days to go to a business conference in the Saudi Riyadh. Only shortly before he said the trip in the desert.