WELCOME TO MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, TRANSPORT, AGRICULTURE AND VINICULTURE RHINELAND-PALATINATE Holzhofstraße 4 Stiftsstraße 9 55116 Mainz, 55116 Mainz, Germany Germany Phone +49 6131 6172-0 [email protected] Telefax +49 6131 6172-1299 www.mwvlw.rlp.de [email protected] www.isb.rlp.de www.locationfinder.rlp.de Locationfinder Rhineland-Palatinate EVERYTHING IS CLOSE AT HAND WELCOME! The Rhine and Moselle rivers put the state of Rhineland-Palatinate at the geographic center of Europe. Being in the heart of Europe and surrounded by start-up land- Rivers, like arteries, are vital to human existence and to business, essential to transportation and trade. the neighbouring countries of France, Luxem- scape is expan- From an economic standpoint no other European river is more important than the Rhine. Like a string of bourg and Belgium, the State of Rhineland-Pala- ding continuo- pearls it threads its way through major business centers, from Rotterdam through the Ruhr basin onto tinate has established itself as an internationally usly and Basel. At the river’s center lies Rhineland-Palatinate and its state capital, Mainz. successful, future-oriented business location. is assuming The dense network of roads and the excellent increasingly Rivers link Europe’s cultures and endow people living along their banks with distinctive traits. No surprise connections to the Frankfurt airport guarantee larger space then that the people of Rhineland-Palatinate are open-minded, outgoing and communicative world citizens. fast transportation in any direction. Moreover, among the foundations. Rhineland-Palatinate economy assumes a leading position in Germany with an export rate of 56 Digitisation processes are increasingly integrated percent and one of the lowest unemployment to keep our businesses worldwide competitive in rates. the future. Industry 4.0 describes the structural change, which digitisation means to our economy. Kopenhagen Rhineland-Palatinate is the home of innovative We in Rhineland-Palatinate, focus on the close SMEs. Many innovations in, for example me- integration of business, science and research. chanical engineering, healthcare industry, metal industry or the food industry come from family Networks and cooperation constitute the owned businesses that form the backbone of the strength of our economy on the whole. We at- economy of Rhineland-Palatinate. They guarantee tach great importance to the optimal interaction the quality of dual training, which enjoys interna- between production and suppliers, international tionally an excellent reputation. corporations and high-performance SMEs, econo- Berlin my and science. We specifically support this inter- In addition to leading companies in the SME sec- action by offering exceptional industry networks tor, global companies - such as the chemical com- and clusters. Be it in the commercial vehicle London pany BASF in Ludwigshafen, the pharmaceutical industry, the metal-ceramic plastics industry with manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim, Mercedes innovative materials technology or environmental Benz with the world’s largest commercial vehicle Mainz technology. Together, all of us are stronger, even Frankfurt am Main plant in Wörth or the special glass manufacturer in the world markets. SCHOTT AG in Mainz - provide a healthy mix of industries, quality jobs and high added value. My goal as the Minister of Economic Affairs of Every seventh employee in the state works in a the State of Rhineland-Palatinate is to create the Paris high technology field. Thus, Rhineland-Palatinate best conditions for entrepreneurs - family busi- Wien is one of the top 20 regions in Europe when it nesses, international corporations and start-ups. comes to innovation potential. It is the mix of tradition and modern times that makes our state so unique and so successful. It is Rhineland-Palatinate also looks to entrepreneurs. is worth investing in Rhineland-Palatinate. They will find here attractive funding opportuni- ties, and the right conditions for steady growth. As successful SMEs of tomorrow, this is how Mailand entrepreneurs develope new ideas and ensure Dr. Volker Wissing, dynamism and competitive edge in their future- Minister of Economic Affairs, Transport, oriented business models. In particular, the Agriculture and Viniculture 2 3 FROM RHINELAND-PALATINATE INTO THE WORLD Fissler GmbH, Werner & Mertz GmbH, Alfred Sternjakob GmbH & Co. KG, Apollinaris GmbH, 4 5 Sebapharma GmbH & Co. KG, Bitburger Braugruppe GmbH, HORNBACH-Baumarkt-Aktiengesellschaft, Schott AG TEN GOOD REASONS TO CHOOSE RHINELAND-PALATINATE 1. Europe’s top location 4. Innovation through cooperation Rhineland-Palatinate, part of dynamic southwest Research institutions and universities spark Ger many, is a region with high employment and innovations. Technology centers provide an an attractive investment climate. Next-door to ideal platform for launching new companies. To France, Belgium, and Luxembourg and part of consolidate the innovative resources in the state, the Rhine-Main and Rhine-Neckar business hubs, business and science work closely together and Rhineland-Palatinate is outstandingly located for continually surpass one another to achieve top those poised to conquer markets. performance. The shortest-path principle applies in earnest. Rhineland-Palatinate provides everything that investors and families need for successful work and family-friendly living. 2. Strong industries 5. Broadband service everywhere Rhineland-Palatinate is a flourishing corporate 7. Solutions for everything 9. Quality of life in enthralling neighborhood. Companies are either components Rhineland-Palatinate backs broadband, right across surroundings of a strong industrial business and science environ- the state. Already a disproportionately high number A mere knock on the door is the fastest and easi- ment, as is the case for the commercial vehicles of Rhineland-Palatinate residents use a broadband est way to make progress for Rhineland-Palati- Rhineland-Palatinate accents the joys of life — industry, the metal, ceramic and plastic sector, and connection to access the Internet; broadband nate entrepreneurs and investors. There is noth- in every respect. Wines from Germany’s No. 1 the chemical and pharmaceutical industries; or is already available to around 98 percent of the ing to stop you from sitting down with mayors, wine-producing state enjoy international critical they work side by side with internationally suc- population. To benefit from all growth and innova- district administrators, or ministers for a personal acclaim from juries and, above all, consumers. cessful, mostly mid-sized enterprises, in particular tion stimuli connected with the availability of faster discussion. People know and support each other, Culture is ingrained in the scenery. Visiting any those in specialized environmental technologies. broadband connections, the expansion of the high- and join in to find solutions. It is not surprising of the state’s four UNESCO World Heritage Sites Companies are always rooted in the right environ- speed broadband networks will be continued in the that Rhineland-Palatinate can make the impos- makes for an unforgettable experience. It is no ment. coming years. sible possible. wonder that Rhineland-Palatinate ranks among the most popular vacation destinations in Germa- ny. It is truly a wonderful place to live and work. 3. First-rate company manpower 6. Excellent operating base with growth 8. International transport connections perspectives Qualified employees are more important than Air, rail, road, and waterways serve world markets. 10. Welcome home ever. For this reason Rhineland-Palatinate pays A successful mix of large and medium-sized com- Thanks to an excellent highway system, fast ac- special attention to professional training. More panies from across the business spectrum make cess to airports (Frankfurt, Frankfurt-Hahn, Koeln/ In Rhineland-Palatinate we think and act as than 20 universities and research organizations Rhineland-Palatinate an above-average performer Bonn and Saarbruecken) as well as ultra-fast trains Europeans — no wonder considering our loca- continuously train new generations of workers. among European regions. This is complemented destined for German and European metropolitan tion. Elementary schools teach the languages of None of them charge tuition fees for undergradu- by the professional support for entrepreneurs and areas and business hubs, Rhineland-Palatinate is adjacent countries. We are open to the world and ate studies. Graduates of engineering schools and start-ups through attractive funding opportuni- truly well connected. And then there’s the Rhine, of fascinated in people of different national back- the dual-training system (combined schooling ties and good conditions. The quality of life also course — Europe’s most important waterway. grounds. Corporate managers can feel assured and on-the-job training designed to deliver skills speaks for Rhineland-Palatinate: Here, investors that their employees’ families in Rhineland- and master craftsmen for the workforce) enjoy and their families find everything they need for Palatinate will have at their disposal outstanding an enviable reputation throughout the world. success at work and a family-friendly life. childcare services and all-day schooling. 6 7 In the heart of Europe, in Rhineland-Palatinate, they make their home: powerfully active, world- renowned companies on the one hand, and tra- ditional, medium-sized firms on the other — the Hidden