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North Rhine-Westphalia wins "European Region of the Future" Award

fDi Magazine, a subsidiary of the British Financial Times, has rated NRW number one in their overall ranking of "European Cities and Regions of the Future 2016/17", ahead of Île-de-France, the South-East of England and Baden-Württemberg.

This repeat of its top ranking from 2014/15 confirms NRW's position as Europe's most attractive economic and investment region. A panel of industry experts and editors rated 481 European locations for the survey. 

"We are one of Germany's leading economic and industrial regions, with high market and innovation potential, and as such we are a magnet for international investors," said NRW-Minister for Economic Affairs, Garrelt Duin. "Over 18,000 companies from all over the world have already discovered the benefits offered by our location. Winning this award again is confirmation of the enduring appeal and competitiveness of our region."

NRW's top ranking is due in part to the high-investment industry, especially the logistics and pharmaceutical sectors, which boast global players such as Bayer, Deutsche Post, DHL and Evonik. In addition, NRW scores highly as a center for innovations and patents as well as with its dense university and research landscape.

NRW not only occupies the top position in the overall rankings, but is also number one when compared with other western European economic regions and the major European regions. In the categories "Human Capital and Lifestyle" and "FDI Strategy" for the major European regions, NRW came second, behind Scotland and South-East England.

fDi Magazine publishes annual rankings of the most attractive European regions and cities. The evaluation criteria are based on economic potential, human resources and quality of life, cost efficiency, infrastructure and business climate as well as marketing and FDI acquisition strategy and regional infrastructure planning projects.