Investments from abroad: "There is great interest in Germany"

Despite the corona pandemic, Germany remains a popular investment location - especially for companies from the United States and Great Britain.

According to the state-owned business development agency Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), 540 new projects were announced by foreign investors in the first ten months of this year, one less than in the same period in 2020.

"There is great interest in Germany - despite the lockdown that will last into May," said the GTAI head of the investor recruiting department, Achim Hartig. After its end, demand increased by more than 25 percent. More than 10,000 new jobs are to be created. The projects registered with the funding agencies of the federal states are not yet taken into account in these data.

According to the information, the United States remains the largest foreign investor: 124 new projects came from there, which corresponds to just under a quarter.

Great Britain asserts itself in second place with 59 new settlements.

"Brexit is pushing companies out of the country," said Hartig.

“You often cannot find any employees in the UK, plus customs and trade restrictions.” It is estimated that the UK transport industry alone is currently short of around 100,000 drivers, which is why petrol stations and supermarkets were temporarily unable to be adequately supplied.

Semiconductors and battery cells

"But there is still an indirect Brexit effect," said Hartig.

“After leaving the EU, many investors from countries like India or Japan no longer settle their projects in Great Britain, but on mainland Europe.

Germany benefits from this. "

According to the GTAI, the uncertain outcome of the federal election in September did not lead to any uncertainty among potential investors.

"They perceive Germany as a stable place with a democratic and legally secure system, regardless of the outcome of the election," said Hartig.

For potential interested parties, it is more of a role whether they can produce sustainably in this country and, for example, obtain electricity from renewable energies.

It is noticeable that Germany is very popular with more multinational corporations.

"The safe haven of Germany is deliberately controlled in the Corona crisis," said Hartig.

The car manufacturer Tesla, which has settled near Berlin and wants to create thousands of jobs, has made the biggest headlines in recent years.

Other high-tech companies would also come - for example from the fields of semiconductors, supercomputers, computer production or components for battery cell production.