Foreign Trade Consultancy
Through their experience and contacts, institutions, associations and chambers help small and medium-sized business take the step into foreign markets. There are a variety of portals, advisory services and online tools for specific sector or country interests. They offer companies a good information base for further course of action.
Germany Trade & Invest
Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) is the economic development agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. With over 50 locations worldwide, GTAI and its partner network support German companies on their way abroad, promote Germany as a business location and assist foreign companies in establishing themselves in Germany. GTAI's extensive range of services includes information on global economic and sector trends, legal and customs regulations, investment and development projects, calls for tenders, and business and cooperation requests from potential foreign partners. GTAI provides this information mostly free of charge, both online and in the form of brochures and magazines. The company also manages the foreign trade portal iXPOS and the digital platform Africa Business Guide.
Africa Business Network
With the Africa Business Network, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) offers small and medium-sized companies a bundle of advisory and support services. It brings together established players working in the fields of development cooperation and foreign trade promotion. It also refers companies, depending on their needs, to appropriate contact partners, such as the network of foreign chambers of commerce, Germany Trade & Invest, the market development programme and the export initiatives of the BMWK, as well as associations, societies and institutions with expertise in Africa.
The Africa Business Network office provides companies seeking to become economically active in Africa with a personal contact for their business projects. This Africa Partner provides an initial overview of available support services, refers companies to the appropriate foreign trade promotion and development cooperation offices for more in-depth advice, and accompanies companies throughout the entire advisory process. The offer is cross-sectoral and applies to all countries in Africa.
The Africa Business Guide is the digital signpost of the Africa Business Network. Companies can find information, offers and contacts on all aspects involving doing business in Africa.
Africa Business Guide
Africa Business Guide is the online platform of the Africa Business Network. Companies interested in Africa, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, can find relevant information and contacts on all aspects of doing business in Africa. Clear profiles of African countries summarise economic development, strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities in promising sectors and the framework conditions for accessing the market. Practical relevance is at the forefront of the Africa Business Guide, which is why companies that are already on the ground have a say. They report on challenges and opportunities on the continent. Those interested in Africa will also find information on the support and advisory services offered by the partners of the Africa Business Network and their news and event information. The Africa Business Guide is a service provided by Germany Trade & Invest on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).
iXPOS The German Business Portal
iXPOS is the central platform for German foreign trade and information for companies that want to prepare their internationalisation, open up foreign markets or conduct export business. The portal bundles information from more than 70 institutions, organisations and networks that support German companies in their foreign business. For example, companies can find information on the Market Development Programme (Markterschließungsprogramm, MEP) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) at iXPOS. iXPOS brings together the partners of German foreign trade promotion in a network.
Success Around the Globe – Außenwirtschaftsportal Bayern
The Außenwirtschsftsportal Bayern (Bavaria‘s foreign trade portal), is a service of the Bavarian Chambers of Industry and Commerce and Chambers of Trade for companies from the Free State. Companies with an interest in foreign markets can find a wealth of information, including funding programmes for opening up new target markets and legal, tax and customs regulations. One focus is cooperation with developing countries. The Business Scouts for Development from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development at the Außenwirtschaftsportal Bayern guide companies through funding and financing offers that make it easier to get involved in Africa, Asia or Latin America.
Baden-Württemberg International
Baden-Württemberg International (BM_i) is the competence centre of the state of Baden-Württemberg for the internationalisation of business and science. It is available to domestic and foreign companies, research institutions and universities as a central point of contact for questions relating to internationalisation. One of its main tasks is to support companies in Baden-Württemberg in opening up foreign markets. For example, Baden-Württemberg International organises trips for small and medium-sized enterprises to explore markets and initiate business. For example, the delegation trips enable companies to become acquainted with industry trends and business fields abroad or offer a platform for initial contacts with potential business partners. For foreign investors, the Competence Centre is the central contact point in the country.
IHK Reutlingen Kompetenzzentrum Subsahara-Afrika
IHK Reutlingen (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa in order to facilitate market entry for its member companies. An EZ-Scout works at the IHK on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), to advise companies with an interest in Africa on funding and financing programmes, among other things. The Competence Centre works closely with all representatives of the German business community and the AHK offices in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as with the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) mbH. The Competence Centre regularly organises events and delegation trips, sends out newsletters and networks companies in the Sub-Saharan Africa IHK network.