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Germany attracts Chinese investors

09/20/2006

German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee attends "transport logistic" China.

Shanghai, 20 September 2006 – German Minister for Transport, Construction and Urban Development, Wolfgang Tiefensee, invited Chinese companies to invest in Germany on his visit to the trade fair transport logistic in Shanghai. He emphasised the efficiency and performance record of Germany as a prime logistics location. “No other European country has comparable logistics expertise or such outstanding transportation infrastructure. These factors provide ideal conditions for all exporting and importing companies – for trade in goods both with Germany and the rest of Europe,” Tiefensee said.

Logistics is now the third biggest industry in the German Federal Republic with an annual turnover of 170 billion euros. Some 2.6 people are directly employed in the logistics business. Another 600,000 persons are employed in the supply industry. In Europe, Germany ranks first as logistics location. This is the result of a European study carried through by the German Federal Logistics Association (BVL) titled "The Top 100 in Logistics 2006." Germany has nine European markets in its immediate vicinity. This is unique in Europe and it makes transportation simpler because there is no need to go through transit countries. The central geographical position of Germany and its logistics infrastructure provides the location with optimal prerequisites as the logistic crossroads for goods flow from and to Asia, Tiefensee said.

Dr. Norbert Bensel, Chairman of Deutsche Bahn, th German Railways and thus responsible for a group that is a global leader in logistics commented: “Whether by rail, road or water Germany offers efficient transportation and logistics solutions for every means of transport. Their integration is arranged to perfection thanks to efficient terminals. It is this excellent infrastructure that makes Germany the ideal logistics location in Europe.” Dr. Bensel referred among others to the logistics group Schenker that has operated in Hong Kong for around 40 years and in China for 25 years. As holder of an A-license, Schenker has successfully developed transport between China and Germany.

Gerhart Maier, CEO of Invest in Germany GmbH, offers tangible support and consulting for Chinese companies in Germany. Invest in Germany is in charge of the country's logistics initiative. "Let me invite all interested Chinese companies to consult Invest in Germany on the opportunities of setting up business in Germany. It is definitely worthwhile. They will see for themselves that Germany really is China's 'Gateway to Europe'", Maier said.