PLANNING and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan took time out from her busy schedule this week to jet over to Germany to improve relations between that country and Western Australia. Ms MacTiernan joined Perth Mint general manager Veronica Maguire and the mint’s European sales agent, Günther Wolters, to unveil the mint’s 2007-dated gold coins at the Australian Embassy in Berlin. The launch was used as an opportunity to promote WA as an attractive destination for holidays, work or study, and was held in conjunction with the annual ‘In Unison’ festival, which encourages the development of commercial and cultural links between Germany and WA. The mint’s precious metal coins are apparently highly sought after in Europe. According to Ms Maguire, more and more European investors and collectors are turning to pure gold and silver in the shape of Australian legal tender coins due to their reputation for high quality. Germany has consistently topped the mint’s European sales league over the past few years, buying 42 per cent of the total 1,241,568 ounces from 2003 to 2006.