Düsseldorf, 26. January 2016 - Last year, the state-owned economic development agency NRW.INVEST secured 80 new settlements from China for North Rhine-Westphalia and also helped with an expansion investment. The total of 81 investment projects will initially create around 360 new jobs. The total number of Chinese companies in NRW has now increased to around 900.
"The fact that NRW.INVEST has again been able to increase the number of Chinese settlements in North Rhine Westphalia in 2015 shows that we are the number one European location for the Chinese economy," says Garrelt Duin, NRW Minister for Economic Affairs, Energy and Industry. "China's economy continues to focus strongly on internationalization and strives in particular to succeed in Europe." Currently, mainly small and medium-sized enterprises are venturing to Germany. The major Chinese companies are more reserved at the moment. "In the current Chinese economic situation, SMEs are the main driving force behind China's internationalization," explains Petra Wassner, CEO of NRW.INVEST. "Many of the companies come from the growth industries solar energy and lighting technology. However, SMEs are making their way to Europe and Germany in small, cautious steps. This can be seen in both the volume of investment as well as in the effect upon the labor market. After a successful start in their new location, however, the companies then grow steadily."
The investment projects from China in 2015 are distributed across several North Rhine-Westphalian cities and municipalities. The Düsseldorf region was again at the forefront, with 58 new settlements, followed by the Ruhr Metropolis with 8 new settlements, thereby gaining in popularity among Chinese investors.
Approximately 900 Chinese companies are located in NRW, along the Rhine in particular. The Düsseldorf region is the most popular, followed by the Lower Rhine region and then the Cologne/Bonn region. Over two-thirds are involved in the trade and sale of products from the mechanical engineering and industrial plant sectors, along with household appliances, ICT, the automotive industry, the healthcare industry and metal production. Around 15 percent of the companies are service providers such as business consultancies or advertising agencies. Almost 50 companies manufacture or conduct research and development in NRW.
"NRW.INVEST has a strong presence in China, with offices in Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shanghai and Nanjing, and this is paying off," emphasized Dr. Herbert Jakoby, Head of the Foreign Trade Department in the North Rhine-Westphalian Economics Ministry and CEO of NRW.INVEST. "This is evidenced not only in the settlements, but also in numerous science and research projects."
Chinese investment projects 2015 in NRW
| Region | Number |
|---|---|
| Düsseldorf region | 58 |
| Ruhr Metropolis | 8 |
| Bergisch tri-city area | 6 |
| Cologne/Bonn region | 4 |
| Lower Rhine | 4 |
| Münsterland | 1 |
| Total | 81 |
