2/5/2009

20 representations worldwide to support Bavarian industry abroad / Network of representations to be further extended

MUNICH / SEEON Speaking at the annual meeting of Bavarian foreign representatives in Kloster Seeon, Bavaria’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Martin Zeil, commented: "Our foreign liaison offices are a central coordinating body for Bavarian companies interested in opening up new markets abroad." The State of Bavaria already has representatives in as many as 20 countries round the world, like for instance Japan, India, China, Brazil or the USA. They act as local contact partners for Bavarian companies and help to arrange business contacts. This makes it easier for companies to enter interesting export markets.

"Exports are and will continue to be a vital guarantee for economic success. At times of crisis, small and medium-sized companies in particular need more support. They have special challenges to overcome in their foreign business", the Economics Minister underlined. Zeil: "That is why we have launched our new ‘Package of Measures for International Trade in 2009’. Besides launching stronger initiatives for service providers and newcomers to the export business, it aims to intensify the Bavarian Trade Fair Participation Program and to expand the worldwide network of foreign representative offices."

Over the past few years, the network of representations has been steadily extended. Zeil: "This coming March I will be opening a new representation in Israel. We are also planning a representative office in Turkey." In addition to promoting international trade, the offices practice active location marketing for the State of Bavaria. They acquire and support foreign investors in collaboration with ‘Invest in Bavaria’, the central contact agency for location marketing in the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs.

"The numbers of new recruitments of foreign companies in Bavaria prove that this cooperation is producing excellent results: Last year, the Japanese representative alone succeeded in persuading 16 Japanese companies to set up facilities in the technology location of Bavaria. The representative in India gained another ten new businesses and ten firms from the USA could be secured for Bavaria with the assistance of the representatives in New York and California", the Economics Minister added.

During the period from January to October 2008, Bavaria’s exports went up by 4.2 percent to € 133.6 billion. Even though figures have fallen in the last two months, Bavaria will probably still set its 15 export record in succession for 2008.

Source: Invest in Bavaria