Business and Development

Increase of 9.3 million passengers at German airports in 2011

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:22:30 GMT

As reported by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis) the number of departing and arriving passengers at German airports amounted to 175.2 million travellers in 2011; with a growth of 5....

Research and development are making German companies fit for the future

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:30:14 GMT

The Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) published its "German Innovation Survey 2011" earlier this month. One of the key results to be shown is that in 2010, more German companies continuously pursued research and development than ever before. The relevant figure was put at 34,000, or 12 percent of German companies, thus topping the previous peak value from 2008.

German Imports and Exports increased 2011

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:19:02 GMT

Germany exported commodities to the value of 1,060.1 billion Euro and imported commodities to the value of 902.0 billion Euro in 2011. Hence, as further reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Des...

First wind orders for Siemens from Africa

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:57:01 GMT

In step with its intentions to increase its growth in Africa, German industrial giant Siemens has announced its entry into the African wind power market. The company plans to supply a total of 44 wind turbines for two wind power plants in Morocco scheduled to go on line in 2013. Africa is an emerging wind market and a strategic location for the global leader in eco-friendly technologies.

Trial of biosynthetic fuel at Lufthansa successful

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:04:17 GMT

After a six-month practical trial involving biosynthetic fuel, Germany's Lufthansa Airlines is pleased to announce the first positive results. In all, 1,187 biofuel flights were operated between Hamburg and Frankfurt. According to initial calculations, CO2 emissions were reduced by 1,471 tonnes. Total consumption of the biokerosene mix amounted to 1,556 tonnes.

OECD congratulates Germany's progress in development policy

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:19:05 GMT

The OECD Chair congratulated Germany's development ministry on its progress over the past year as part of a peer review. As one of the largest donor nations, Germany not only achieved many of its implementation goals, but enhanced its work and maintained its leadership role in many areas of international development.

Spurred by Consumer Spending, German Economy Expands Again in 2011

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:36:37 GMT

The German economy grew by 3.0 percent in 2011 on 2010. This price-adjusted bump in gross domestic product follows an expansion of 3.7 percent the year before. When combined, the last two years demonstrate a dynamic recovery from and a strong response to the 5.1-percent loss experienced in the recession of 2009.

German Exporters Successfully Hold Sway

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:51:17 GMT

Upon the release of recent trade figures by the German Statistics Office, German Economics and Technology Minister, Dr. Philipp Rösler noted that "demand for German products and services abroad is still strong.“

Renewable energy leader opens offices in Cape Town

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:59:18 GMT

GL Garrad Hassan, the renewables arm of German-based Germanischer Loyd group, opened offices in Cape Town in January 2012. A global leader in renewables consultancy, the company has worked in the nation since the 1990s. South Africa's enormous promise for renewable energy infrastructure development made it an ideal location for the company.

The best of interior design at imm cologne 2012

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:25:38 GMT

The leading international furniture fair, IMM will take place from January 16-22, 2012, with everybody who's anybody presenting themselves in Cologne again. From international basics in living room and bedroom furniture, to bathrooms, kids furniture and sophisticated interior design concepts, all of it will be on show.

The value of a rose: A green partnership in Fair Trade

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:24:26 GMT

Fairly traded flowers: Lufthansa Cargo flies them for German importer Omniflora from East Africa to Frankfurt – and thus over an enormous distance. A fair price for the fair blossom and, surprisingly, the climate balance is astonishingly good.

German seaports buzzing in anticipation of offshore wind boom

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:49:22 GMT

As Germany prepares for a major expansion of offshore wind to replace nuclear power, global engineering companies have flocked to the German coastlines. With wind parks planned for both the North Sea and Baltic Sea, the build-up can be felt in the country’s seaports and hinterlands.

A record of more than 41 million employed in Germany in 2011

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:18:06 GMT

According to preliminary calculations of Germany's Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), an average of approximately 41.04 million persons whose place of residence is in Germany were employed in 2011. The 41-million threshold was thus exceeded for the first time and the previous record employment level reached in 2010 was markedly exceeded by 535,000 (1.3 percent).

Germany's 2011 commitment to research, development and innovation

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:40:16 GMT

German companies are investing more and more in research and development. In 2010 investments of enterprises in research and development (R&D) totalled slightly less than 58 billion Euro. This year entrepreneurial investments are expected to reach more than 60 billion Euro.

New migration policy helps Germany recruit skilled immigrants

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:43:01 GMT

The German Government adopted important measures in Cabinet to improve the rules on residency, making it much easier for highly qualified and skilled workers from other countries to access the German labour market. These are pro-active steps by Germany to counter the impending skills shortage.

Good tidings in employment rate, consumer confidence, business climate

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:13:18 GMT

Germany has turned in some uplifting economic numbers heading into what otherwise seems an austere holiday season. Namely, its workforce expanded and its unemployment dropped as the country entered winter with a cautiously expanding market.

Economic Minister Rösler: "Sound growth in the third quarter - the German economy is in good shape"

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:01:13 GMT

Economic activity picked up sharply in Germany in the third quarter of 2011. According to provisional data from the Federal Statistical Office, gross domestic product in the third quarter was up by 0.5 percent over the preceding quarter.

AFRIKA KOMMT! The sequel

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:07:22 GMT

A year-long professional training program in Germany for up-and-coming Africans is mid-way through its 2011-2012 session. Initiated in 2008, “Afrika Kommt!” successfully prepares promising professionals in top German companies, with both language training and hands-on experience. There are currently 17 participants from sub-Saharan Africa in Germany as part of the program.

German economy remains on an upward trajectory

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:42:12 GMT

In its most recent projection, the German government forecasts that real GDP will grow by 2.9 percent in 2011 and by 1.0 percent in 2012. The German Economics Minister described the nation as "the anchor of stability and growth in Europe" in the economic forecast.

Making Germany's economy the most resource-efficient in the world

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:03:23 GMT

Germany's environment ministry has put forth an ambitious national resource efficiency program that aims to make German industry less dependent on the use of new raw materials and to reduce environmental pollution associated with the use of resources. The program should position the country to become the most resource-efficient economy in the world.