The Asia-Pacific region will continue to be the most important growth region for German companies in the future. In addition to China, the markets of the ASEAN region and India are attracting interest with their increasingly consumption-oriented middle classes and stable growth forecasts. Partnerships with high-tech countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Singapore remain key pillars of German industry’s international engagement.

Africa is a continent of opportunity. It is time to view Africa more as a promising economic partner and a market of the future, rather than merely as a recipient of development aid.

For many German companies, China is one of the most important markets in the world. Conversely, Germany is the emerging Asian power’s largest trading partner in Europe and a key supplier of technology. At the same time, with their different political and economic systems, the two countries find themselves caught between partnership and systemic competition.

Economic security begins with effective and efficient export controls. As a major exporter of industrial goods, Germany relies on licensing procedures that are reliable, swift, and transparent—only in this way can companies remain operational and internationally competitive.

Eine stabile globale Wirtschaftsordnung braucht starke internationale Regeln, offene Märkte und verlässliche Partnerschaften. Der BDI setzt sich für ein funktionierendes multilaterales Handelssystem ein, das faire Wettbewerbsbedingungen sichert und globale Herausforderungen gemeinschaftlich adressiert. Präferenzielle Handelsabkommen helfen, neue Märkte zu erschließen, Wertschöpfung zu stärken und Lieferketten resilienter zu machen. Zugleich bleibt eine moderne Zollpolitik entscheidend, um Handel effizient, sicher und zukunftsfähig zu gestalten.

The world has never been as interconnected as it is today—socially, politically, and economically. Global economic cycles ensure a wider range of goods and lower prices, but they also place high demands on logistics and efficient supply chains. Whether it’s trade conflicts, pandemics, shortages of raw materials, or the sinking of a container ship: companies must learn to manage these risks.

Latin America is considered a growth region with great potential—even now, amid slow growth and difficult times. The region has significant needs in areas where German companies have much to offer. Nevertheless, Germany’s economic engagement in the region remains far below its potential. Improved framework conditions and new trade agreements could provide important impetus for expanding economic relations.

The United States remains one of the most important foreign markets for the German economy. However, the policies of U.S. President Trump are posing challenges for German companies.

Data and cargo theft, cyberattacks, espionage, sabotage, and other forms of economic crime—which cause over 267 billion euros in damages annually—as well as natural disasters and political instability: For Germany’s globally interconnected industry, all aspects of security are critical—both physical and digital. Business and politics must work more closely together to address this challenge.

The availability of high-quality data is crucial to the industry’s future innovation and competitiveness. This data forms the foundation for process optimization, new business models, and future key innovations. That is why we need a smart data policy that takes into account the technical, legal, and economic aspects of data management.

High-performance digital infrastructures are essential for an innovative and competitive industrial sector. Modern networks enable new business models - from AI and the IoT to the industrial metaverse - while also strengthening the resilience of our economy.

The modernization and digitization of the German public administration face major challenges. Businesses and citizens are dissatisfied, and industry relies on a functioning public administration. German industry is calling for concrete measures to drive forward the modernization of public administration.

The digital transformation continues to advance. As machines become increasingly interconnected and autonomous, the real and virtual worlds are converging ever more closely. In manufacturing, this is giving rise to Industry 4.0—the fourth industrial revolution. This presents Germany, as an industrial hub, with a wide range of opportunities for greater growth and prosperity.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally changing our lives. Its transformative effects in the future will have a lasting impact on the way we live and work. But what exactly is AI? How is AI used in industry? What are the barriers to AI adoption, and how is the BDI, in its role as the leading industry association, advocating for the implementation and innovation-friendly regulation of artificial intelligence?

The modernization and digitization of the German public administration face major challenges. Businesses and citizens are dissatisfied, and industry relies on a functioning public administration. German industry is calling for concrete measures to drive forward the modernization of public administration.

Decarbonizing industry is undoubtedly a monumental task that Germany must tackle in order to achieve its climate neutrality goal. To do so, it must make use of all available technical options and the full range of policy tools.

Energy efficiency is a key lever for strengthening the competitiveness of industry while reliably achieving climate goals. Efficient processes, clear regulatory frameworks, and planning certainty are crucial for enabling companies to invest and accelerate their transformation.

More than 400 billion euros will be needed in the electricity sector alone by 2030 to ensure the success of the energy transition. Electricity consumers will have to bear this cost through their electricity bills. This represents an enormous challenge for all involved.

Molecular energy carriers play a key role in industrial transformation. Hydrogen, natural gas, and CO₂ are closely linked to infrastructure issues such as transportation and storage. Efficient networks and new applications lay the foundation for energy security and climate protection.

A politically strong and competitive EU is the foundation of prosperity in Germany. The European single market is the home market for local companies. Looking ahead, we need close cooperation among political and economic stakeholders in EU member states—not only in Brussels, but also at the bilateral and multilateral levels. We at the BDI work closely with our partners to strengthen Europe and create the conditions for stable economic growth in Germany.

A strong Europe needs a competitive Economic and Monetary Union, a fully functioning single market, and a forward-looking industrial policy. A deepened single market creates economies of scale, fosters innovation, and builds robust value chains—especially in times of global upheaval. In this way, an integrated European economic policy plays a decisive role in securing Europe’s prosperity and strategic independence.

German industry—from publicly traded corporations to medium-sized family businesses—relies on an efficient and straightforward legal framework. Unnecessary bureaucracy costs time and money, hinders innovation, and exacerbates the country’s competitive disadvantage. Industrial SMEs in particular suffer from the multitude of government regulations, as they often lack the resources to cope with complex requirements.

Anyone who confuses the sociological middle class with the entrepreneurial small and medium-sized business sector cannot formulate sustainable social and economic policies. Beyond providing products and services in demand internationally, small and medium-sized enterprises also create jobs, private income, and revenue for tax and social systems. They also assume social responsibility by supporting culture, sports, and volunteer work. This requires political support as well.

Achieving climate-neutral mobility requires technology-neutral solutions that promote both efficient alternative powertrains and sustainable fuels. The BDI is committed to advancing electric mobility, hydrogen, and renewable fuels in equal measure in order to effectively reduce emissions in the transportation sector. A reliable regulatory framework that enables innovation and strengthens infrastructure for all climate-friendly technologies is crucial. This will ensure that the transformation in the mobility sector can succeed without jeopardizing competitiveness and security of supply.

The German economy is on the path toward carbon neutrality. The road ahead is long and challenging, but there is no alternative: If we want to remain an industrialized nation, industry must succeed in replacing the fossil fuel foundation on which it was built over the past century and a half with a new, decarbonized, and renewable foundation. The challenge: The foundation must be replaced while operations continue—without the house collapsing in the process.

Given that climate protection in the transportation sector must be achieved without compromising mobility for the public and the economy, and in a socially and economically balanced manner, the focus must be on a coherent set of measures.

More than 30 percent of our exports to overseas markets are shipped by air. And many people want to fly to visit friends or go on vacation. As a leading export nation, Germany needs efficient connections to other economic regions around the world. This requires a strategically planned air transport policy coordinated by the federal government. Such a policy should not only make air travel more expensive but also promote innovations that support climate protection.

Despite the relatively high level of investment in infrastructure projects, their implementation often falls short. Lengthy procedures and restrictive requirements consistently make it difficult to put the allocated funds to use. Planning and approval processes must be expedited.

Thanks to intelligent transportation systems, consumers, the environment, infrastructure, and resources will be significantly relieved in the future.

Effective and efficient compliance systems have now become standard practice in many German companies. The tools used are as diverse and tailored to individual needs as the companies themselves. But there is still much to be done: Companies must monitor the quality of their compliance systems, and policymakers must optimize the legal framework. Only in this way can a fair system emerge that ultimately benefits society as a whole.

German corporate law offers companies a variety of legal structures that allow them to organize themselves and present themselves in the market according to their specific needs. Among the best-known national legal forms are the GbR, the OHG, and the KG, as well as the AG and the GmbH as corporations. In addition, the Societas Europaea (SE) has gained increasing importance and is particularly valued by larger companies due to its European and international orientation.

Whether it’s laptops, cleaning services, or even an entire building: public contracting authorities at the federal, state, and local levels procure goods, services, and construction work to carry out their respective responsibilities. This presents an opportunity for German industry to offer its services.

Consumer policy is a cross-cutting issue. Businesses and consumers alike have a shared interest in high-quality products at reasonable prices. Healthy competition for the best products therefore benefits everyone—both businesses and consumers. The implementation of European regulations must not come at the expense of competitiveness. After all, increased bureaucracy and higher costs put businesses at a disadvantage in global competition.

Effective competition is one of the key drivers of a dynamic economy. It fosters innovation, promotes open markets and investment, and ensures that market participants use their financial and operational resources efficiently.

Space exploration is part of the solution to global environmental and climate protection and to greater sustainability on Earth. It provides the data for numerous digital services, new business models, and technologies. Its global commercialization—New Space—represents a huge opportunity and is becoming increasingly important for Germany as an industrialized nation.

Security is fundamental to the political and social stability of any society. It provides the framework within which culture, trade, and the economy can develop in the first place. For example, people only invest if they are confident that they will be able to reap the rewards of that investment.

The transition to a tax system that is compatible with the digital age is one of the most pressing challenges in tax policy. In Germany, there is a significant need for action. Given the limited resources available to both businesses and tax authorities, far-reaching improvements and progress are now necessary.

Sustainability reporting is playing an increasingly important role in the context of the green transition. At the legislative level, the revision of the European CSRD Directive as part of the EU Omnibus Procedure, along with its national implementation and the specific ESRS reporting standards, imposes many new requirements on companies. Find out here what matters when it comes to the specific implementation and what the changes mean for companies in Germany.

Although tax revenues are growing steadily and record levels of debt are being incurred, there are significant funding shortfalls in nearly all areas. Germany is falling further and further behind when it comes to corporate investment and location decisions. The BDI is calling on policymakers to take countermeasures—through ambitious fiscal consolidation, consistent prioritization of investment spending, and appropriate structural reforms.

A modern tax policy is essential for boosting investment, ensuring competitiveness, and positioning Germany as a sustainable business location for the future. We need simple, reliable, and internationally competitive rules so that investment decisions once again favor Germany. In this way, a smart tax policy provides the necessary momentum for industry.

Unlike Germany, most industrialized nations are responding to international tax competition by cutting taxes and improving investment conditions for businesses. To avoid falling behind, the federal government must act urgently. In particular, it is necessary to reduce the tax burden on businesses, modernize income taxation, and reform the trade tax.

Investment in German industrial sites must be encouraged. Maintaining and expanding existing industrial sites and implementing new projects are essential prerequisites for a competitive economy, job security, and compliance with high environmental standards.

Biodiversity is a fundamental pillar of sustainable economic activity. Protecting natural habitats strengthens ecological stability and economic sustainability. Sustainable value creation combines responsibility for the environment and society.

Occupational safety and chemical policy are key pillars of a safe, innovative, and competitive industrial sector. The BDI is committed to developing practical, risk-based regulations that ensure both worker protection and industrial value creation.

Throughout the history of the Federal Republic of Germany, economic stakeholders have repeatedly been able to set the necessary course, thereby securing the industrial foundation for prosperity and employment in Germany. German industry hopes that the “Future of Industry” alliance can contribute to securing and expanding the industrial base in Germany.

A strong economy is always underpinned by a strong society. An economy that provides people with prosperity and opportunities is fundamental to peace and social cohesion. It is therefore also the BDI’s responsibility, as the voice of the German business community, to promote and engage in social discourse and, in this way, to strengthen society.

German industry is internationally competitive. This is true whenever industrial companies in Germany can operate under the same conditions as their competitors in other countries. However, if location factors in other countries are significantly more favorable—for example, if lower social and environmental standards apply—this can lead to considerable competitive disadvantages for industrial companies in Germany. Industrial policy can help offset such disadvantages.

Taking risks, challenging the status quo, driving innovation: German companies have achieved a great deal with this mindset. Without pioneers from Germany, the aspirin tablet, the first computer, or the modern automobile might not have seen the light of day until much later. Today, more than ever, new ideas are what matter most. We face new challenges that can only be solved through close cooperation between business and society. To ensure that Germany remains a business location with a future, industry is contributing concrete ideas.