Germany Trade and Invest

Germany Trade & Invest

Germany’s foreign trade and investment is a decisive factor in its growth and prosperity. As a major exporter, Germany is successfully integrated in international trade. At the same time, Germany is a business hub that also benefits from attracting foreign companies, which create additional jobs in the country.

In times of increased international competition, fostering successful economic development is more important than ever. This work is done not least by Germany’s business promotion agency, Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI). GTAI supports German and non-German businesses as they expand their business activities. In addition, GTAI promotes inward investment into Germany and helps German regions affected by structural change to internationalise their economies.

Export promotion

Many SMEs export their goods and services to foreign markets. For this, they depend on having access to information that is up to date. GTAI provides companies with information on more than 120 countries, covering a vast range of topics including foreign markets, sectors, legal systems, customs and invitations to bid for public contracts. Beyond this, companies can also draw on the services offered under the Market Entry Programme of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, which is administered by GTAI, the Healthcare Export Initiative and the Africa Business Guide Not to forget the option of using the Export Guide web portal to gain an overview over the services provided by the more than 70 stakeholders working to promote Germany’s foreign trade and investment.

Attracting investors to Germany

Across the globe, GTAI raises companies’ interests in Germany and provides them with advice, free-of-charge, on how to best establish themselves in Germany. Foreign investors can draw on a substantive range of information and advisory services.This includes sector-specific analyses, and information on the tax and legal systems and on financing and funding opportunities. At the same time, GTAI serves as the central information hub for data on foreign direct investment (FDI reporting) in Germany. Under its Digital Hub Initiative, GTAI focuses on recruiting startups, young entrepreneurs, skilled professionals and (VC) investors to Germany, and to marketing Germany as a site for digital businesses.

Location marketing

GTAI uses a large number of channels (digital, print, TV) to market Germany as a business location. The objective is to promote a positive image of German business abroad and to convince foreign companies to establish themselves in Germany. Germany Works is the campaign used to promote Germany as a business location. It is also administered by GTAI and serves all partners as a platform for shared, strong location marketing.

New Länder and regions undergoing structural change

Structural change in Germany is multi-faceted and poses new challenges for a large number of regions. At the same time, it is a chance for companies from Germany and abroad to become involved in changing regions for the better. GTAI uses a wide range of measures to support the new Länder and regions that are structurally weak or affected by the phase-out of coal as they internationalise. These measures include investor events dedicated to selected industries, business missions for the initiation of business contacts in Germany and abroad, and marketing campaigns for individual clusters or networks.

MARKETS: Print & Digital
Journalistic products, visually attractive and available in a digital format or in print: GTAI has two magazines, MARKETS International and MARKETS Germany, that cover export markets and Germany as a location for business, treating their respective target groups to interesting reports in German and English.