Businesses Band Together in "Made for Germany" Campaign, Aiming to Strengthen Germany's Status as a World Economic Leader
Made for Germany: A Major Public-Private Partnership for Economic Revitalization
In a significant move to strengthen Germany’s economy and global competitiveness, 61 leading German companies and investors have launched the "Made for Germany" initiative. The official presentation took place at the Federal Chancellery, attended by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil, and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche.
The core goals of the initiative are to foster a future-proof and growth-driven economic environment by supporting reforms and investments in key areas such as digitization, innovation, infrastructure, sustainability, and skilled labor. The initiative aims to improve Germany's investment climate, reduce bureaucracy, and help implement targeted reforms effectively, acting as a key liaison with the government.
A central feature of the initiative is a pledged investment of €631 billion (approximately $733 billion) by 2028. This investment encompasses planned and new capital expenditures, as well as research and development spending from participating companies along with contributions from international investors. The magnitude of this commitment demonstrates strong confidence in Germany's long-term economic potential and aims to reverse prior significant investment outflows.
Key areas targeted by the initiative include digitization and digital infrastructure, innovation and research & development, sustainability and green technologies, modernizing infrastructure, especially energy and transport, and addressing skilled labor shortages.
The "Made for Germany" initiative represents a major public-private partnership to revitalize and future-proof Germany’s economy in the face of current geopolitical and economic challenges, emphasizing growth, technological advancement, and competitiveness. The initiative invites other companies and investors to join and help strengthen and future-proof Germany as a business location.
For more information about the initiators and their contact details, visit the website of Siemens, Axel Springer, FGS Global, or the official "Made for Germany" website. The companies have pledged to invest 631 billion euros (~733 billion US dollars) in Germany's economic growth by 2028. Christian Sewing, one of the initiators, says that now is the time for government and business to work together to support growth and strengthen competitiveness.
Alexander Geiser, another initiator, emphasizes the historic opportunity Germany has to strengthen its long-term competitiveness and reestablish itself as a target destination for investment. Roland Busch, the CEO of Siemens, calls for a new operating system focused on growth, technology, and competitiveness. Mathias Döpfner, the CEO of Axel Springer, calls for action from politics, business, and society to turn the momentum into real action.
The investments include planned and new capital investments (capex), research and development (R&D) spending, and contributions from international investors. The initiative positions itself as a key point of contact for the German government, working to define priorities, develop targeted measures, and implement reforms effectively.
Sources: Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW Köln) and Deutsche Bundesbank for the years 2024. Geiser also calls for bold leadership and decisive action to send a clear signal of innovation and progress. The initiative draws on a broad array of both established and new flagship projects to showcase the strong momentum created by participating companies. These projects drive innovation, create employment, and strengthen Germany's competitive edge.
Businesses and investors involved in the "Made for Germany" initiative are committing to investing a substantial amount in various sectors for economic growth. This pledged investment, amounting to €631 billion, includes capital expenditures, research and development spending, and contributions from international investors, all aiming to boost Germany's economy, foster innovation, and enhance its competitiveness in the global market.
