Press release from 18.03.2010
NRW.INVEST: Locations doubled and job numbers quadrupled since 2005
Düsseldorf, March 18, 2010 – With 102 new business settlements NRW.INVEST achieved its second-best balance to date in 2009. At the same time, these investments have created 2,048 new jobs – more than ever before. The experts at the location agency of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia were thus able to more than double the number of investors supported since 2005 and almost quadruple the result for the labor market.
"This continuous increase in foreign investments and their positive effects on jobs are the result of the successful realignment of our former state economic development", emphasizes Christa Thoben, Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Since 2005 NRW.INVEST has assisted 415 foreign investors in the Rhine and Ruhr regions. A total of around 6,780 new jobs were created in the process. The fact that the balance of the state agency is so positive despite the global financial and economic crisis is also due to the sustained growth of the Chinese economy, explains Petra Wassner, Chief Executive Officer of NRW.INVEST: "Our consistent commitment in the People's Republic has resulted in Chinese entrepreneurs making up the largest investor group for several years now. Last year alone, 47 new Chinese companies located here."
Good examples of this are the investments made by SANY Heavy Industry in Bedburg (Bedburg/Bergheim-Müh¬lenerft) and the telecommunications specialist Huawei, which is investing 20 million euros in about 200 new, high-grade jobs in Düsseldorf.
However, the development of Germany on the whole as a business location is also important. "Germany and North Rhine-Westphalia have become much more attractive for investors", underlines Wassner. Factors such as labor costs, taxes and duties, the labor market and the overall economic climate now speak once again clearly in favor of settling in the Rhine/Ruhr region. This is also confirmed by the expansion investment of Makita, a renowned Japanese manufacturer of electric tools and petrol-powered garden equipment. The company is investing over 30 million euros in its German headquarters in Ratingen. At the turn of 2010/2011 a total of 180 employees will put the new headquarters into operation.
The realignment of the former state economic development agency under the umbrella of NRW.INVEST is a major contributor to this success. With a network of experienced representatives the agency has established a competitive position for itself in the key countries of the world economy. The strong local roots of the representations form the backbone of investor acquisition. Continuous contact with business, politics and the media have enabled North Rhine-Westphalia to establish itself as a leading economic location in Europe. The location marketing campaign "We love the new …" already operating in some countries successfully supports these activities. In addition, participation in international trade fairs, conferences and events bears fruit for investors. As documented by the more than 250 inquiries received last year, interest in North Rhine-Westphalia as a business location is clearly here to stay.
"We are convinced that this success story will continue in 2010", says Minister Thoben, looking to the future. There are ample reasons to be confident, such as the most recent location success: The logistics and processing center of TK Maxx, an American-European fashion retail trading group, is to be built in the Rhenish city of Bergheim. More than 19 million euros will be invested there in about 1,000 new jobs. "This is a very promising start to the year."
Infographic:
Location balance of NRW.INVEST
| |
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
| Companies settled |
102
|
115
|
80
|
72
|
46
|
| Potential jobs* |
2,048
|
1,947
|
1,290
|
979
|
517
|
* Plan data given by investors in deciding in favor of North Rhine-Westphalia as a business location..
Since 2005 NRW.INVEST has won a total of 415 investment projects with 6,781 jobs for North Rhine-Westphalia. In 2009 NRW.INVEST achieved its second-best result to date.
For further information and press queries:
NRW.INVEST GmbH
Annette Peis, Press and PR
Tel.: +49 (0) 211-130 00 162, fax: +49 (0) 211-130 00 154
e-mail: Peis@nrwinvest.com
