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BUSINESS & INNOVATION
foreign trade ratio, i.e., the sum total of imports and exports in relation to the gross
domestic product (GDP), stood at 89 percent. This makes Germany’s economy the
“most open” of the G7 countries. By way of
comparison, in 2013 the USA had a foreign
trade ratio of 30 percent.
The partner countries in the European
Union (EU) are the most important market
for German goods and attract 58 percent of
all exports. France is traditionally Germany’s
largest export market, though in the first
six months of 2015 the USA headed the list
GLOBAL
OECD Economic Outlook Twice a year
in its Economic Outlook, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) analyses the
most important trends and the
prospects for the next two years in
the34 OECD member countries and
emerging nations. The overall
assumption for 2015-6 is that growth
in the global economy will gain in
momentum, but will be
restrained in comparison
with pre-crisis days.
→ oecd.org
for the first time, followed by Great Britain,
the People’s Republic of China and the
Netherlands. With regard to imports, however, the rankings run the other way round:
In 2014 most imports came from the Neth-
Germany the seventh largest destination
erlands, followed by the People’s Republic
for investments.
of China, France, the USA, and Italy. Although in some cases growth rates are
The trade-fair industry is regarded as the
weakening, nevertheless economic and
hub of world trade. Germany is the leading
trade relations with Asian countries are be-
trade fair centre when it comes to organis-
coming ever more important and today
ing and staging international trade fairs.
5,000 German companies have investments
Two thirds of globally important industry
in China alone.
events are held in Germany. Every year,
10 million visitors attend around 150 inter-
German direct investments abroad, which
national trade fairs and exhibitions.
since 1990 have increased fivefold to 919 billion euros (2013), are an expression of its
At the same time Germany is a tranship-
strong links within the global economy.
ment hub for the flow of goods in Europe
A third of the total was invested in Euro-
and the world as a whole. More goods tran-
land. Conversely, through their stake in
sit through Germany than through any
local companies, foreign investors are re-
other EU country. About a third of the turn-
sponsible for 3 million jobs in Germany,
over in the ten most important logistics
with the value of foreign direct investments
markets in the EU is generated in Germany,
standing at 458 billion euros. This makes
with 3 million people involved in logistics.