Economic relations with Africa
Africa may be a small market that accounts for only 1% of our foreign trade, but nevertheless the volume of our foreign trade with African countries is roughly 15 times the volume of German bilateral development aid for the same region. Thousands of jobs in Germany depend on trade with Africa. German business is thus an important partner of the German Africa policy. Cooperation between the German Foreign Office and Afrika-Verein der Deutschen Wirtschaft (German-African Business Association) run by German businesses is close and fruitful for both sides.
South Africa is the principal African partner for German business, as well as a strategic political partner with whom collaboration is close at regional and international level. Economic potential is also increasing in the oil states on the Gulf of Guinea and in Angola.
At the same time, Germany assists its African partners to develop their markets. On the one hand, this means promoting regional economic integration, skills development, legal certainty and a better climate for investment. On the other hand, Germany must also work to improve access to the European market for African products and producers.
The third German-Nigerian Business Forum took place in Hamburg, Germany from September 20-21, 2010. The event provided a platform for key public and private sector players from Nigeria to share information and create opportunities for partnerships with German companies.
3rd German-Nigerian Business Forum
The 3rd German European Business Trade Fair (GEREU) took place from September 29 to October 2, 2010, at the Accra International Conference Centre. GEREU is a five-day industrial trade fair focused on growing small to medium enterprises by exposure to the international market. The trade fair provides an international platform for foreign companies to showcase and supply their products and services to the Ghanaian market and is focused on investment goods for industries.
German European Business Trade Fair in Ghana
An impressive conference took place in Berlin and Cologne April 13-14 focussing on the untapped business opportunities in Zambia. The active and renown German-African Business Association (Afrika Verein) partnered with the Zambian Embassy in Berlin to mount this gathering of high-ranking private and public sector representatives.
Zambian business conference
Business Guide Germany Africa 2009/2010
A new directory is available that aims to encourage and strengthen the economic and business ties between Germany and Africa. The “Business Guide Germany Africa “ intends to serve as a guide to both German and African businesses, introducing the respective markets and providing critical information about market entry and investment prospects.
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