More than 24,000 international companies are based in NRW. They manage their German and European business activities from here. For example, Amazon, 3M, BP, Ericsson, Ford, QVC, UPS, Toyota and Vodafone have discovered NRW as an investment location. This is primarily due to the optimal conditions that international companies find here for their growth. International companies have long since established themselves as major employers and provide jobs for around 1.3 million people in NRW.
(Source: Orbis 2024)
Andrea Hendrickx, Country Head for Infosys in Germany, explains why NRW is the top investment location in Germany.
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Despite a challenging economic environment, NRW remains an attractive location for foreign direct investment. In 2024, 317 international settlement and expansion projects were realized – a slight increase compared to the previous year. The number of projected new jobs, at around 8,930, reached its highest level in three years. Regional trends are clear: Europe remains the most important source region for FDI projects in NRW, accounting for over 55 percent, but investment activity from Asia has also increased again. The USA once again had the highest employment impact.
A significant proportion of these projects are in the areas of digitalization, sustainable technologies and research-related production. Overall, around one in four new jobs is created through a production or R&D project. Thus, NRW offers reliable prospects for economic transformation and future technologies.
In international comparison, the location's dynamism is particularly evident: While the number of global greenfield projects increased by only 3 percent, according to UNCTAD, NRW recorded an increase of 8 percent compared to the previous year. Furthermore, German companies are also making an important contribution to the location's development – in 2024, NRW.Global Business supported national investment projects with a volume of around 300 million euros and approximately 1,500 new jobs.
Source: Own surveys 2025
In NRW, potential investors can find sites in central locations – and at good prices. They benefit from a well-developed infrastructure and the opportunity to expand.
finds the right site for foreign investment projects in NRW – whether it is further details on the infrastructure, the geographical location or the local concentration of the industry concerned, potential investors are well informed via the portal.
Situated in the heart of Europe, NRW is a central and cosmopolitan location: International companies and their employees value not only these geographical key data, but also the quality of life, tolerance and open-mindedness to be found here.
This welcoming culture ensures that both large and smaller communities from different countries quickly feel at home here, not only in terms of business but also culturally. The strong networking of communities within NRW plays an important role in the success of investment projects as it allows access to a broad state network and first-hand information.
In Düsseldorf, for example, Europe's third-largest Japanese community has been growing for over 150 years – today, around 15,000 Japanese live in NRW. With Japanese banks, lawyers, kindergartens and schools, supermarkets and cultural centers, the state offers a diverse Japanese infrastructure that is constantly evolving. Key partners include the Japanese Consulate General, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Düsseldorf (JIHK), JETRO and the Japanese Club.
The United States and NRW also have a long shared history – today, some 14,500 U.S. citizens live in the Rhine-Ruhr region. The U.S. Consulate General is based in Düsseldorf, as are the U.S. Commercial Service and the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The American Chamber of Commerce in Germany offers one of the best business networks in Germany in NRW.
Around 36,500 Chinese also live in NRW. The Chinese service sector is broadly based with insurance companies, real estate agents, lawyers, schools, supermarkets, restaurants and cultural centers. With the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and the Bank of China, there are two large financial institutions with branches in Düsseldorf.
Employees of international companies and their families not only find the best conditions for a second home in NRW, but their children also have the opportunity to pursue an internationally oriented education here. In total, there are around 5,400 school facilities, including seven international and eleven foreign schools – an important location bonus for foreign company employees.
International schools are privately run educational institutions. Here, students can obtain internationally recognized degrees that give them access to the numerous universities and courses of study. Foreign schools, on the other hand, offer a qualification in accordance with the school laws applicable in the respective country of origin and prepare students, for example, for access to higher education in that country.
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These and many other location advantages await you in NRW. Invest in one of the most attractive economic regions in Europe. NRW.Global Business will help you – contact us!
