Chambers and associations
In Germany, a multitude of associations provide many-facetted lobbying. Along with professional associations, chambers of commerce, employers’ and employees’ associations, you’ll also find unions and consumer groups.
AHK | German Chambers of Commerce
Accessing world markets: the German Chambers of Commerce (AHKs) offer an international service network with 125 locations in 85 countries to promote German business abroad. German companies who want to establish activities abroad can approach the AHKs for advice, support, contacts and expert information about foreign markets.
AUMA – Association of the German Trade Fair Industry
Germany is the world’s leader in international trade shows. And AUMA – the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry – has been representing their best interests since 1907. The Association includes tradeshow organizers, trade associations and all the service providers who deal with booth construction and logistics. The AUMA also supports presentations made by German companies abroad.
The Association of German Banks online
Pensions, calculators, capital returns: the Association of German Banks online provides tips and information relating to money and finances. The Association of German Banks (Bundesverband deutscher Banken) is the umbrella organization for private banks in Germany. What needs to be taken into consideration when deciding on a Riester contract? With the Euro calculator you can convert one national currency into another. The statistics service provides information on returns and interest rates.
BGA - Federation of German Wholesale and Foreign Trade
The Federation of German Wholesale and Foreign Trade (BGA) focuses on globalization, the market economy and international liberalization.
Federal Association for the German Disposal Industry
Germans produce approximately 40 million tons of waste each year. An entire industry is busy with disposing of this waste in the most suitable way. Its interests are represented by the Federal Association for the German Disposal Industry (DBE), Europe‘s largest mouthpiece before the state, general public and EU institutions. Among other things, the industrial and employers‘ association negotiates wage scales with the trade unions.
Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries
The Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) is the central contact for all matters relating to natural gas, electricity and district heating, water and sanitation. It was founded and represents over 1800 companies.
Association of German Industry
At home and abroad, this association represents the economic interests of German industry: the Association of German Industry (BDI) is the umbrella organization of the industry trade associations in Germany. Its members include trade associations - from the automotive industry to the sugar industry - for which the BDI functions as spokesman and service provider.
Federal Association of Freelance Professions
The approximately 1,2 mil. freelance workers in Germany aren’t left completely up to their own devices: the association representing their interests, the Federal Association of Freelance Professions (BFB), is the umbrella organization that acts on the behalf of freelance professions in the employer-employee society in the general public and the world of politics.
German Association for the Pharmaceutical Industry
It was a long way from pill peddling in the Middle Ages to the modern pharmaceutical industry. Meanwhile, there are approximately 240 companies that belong to the German Association for the Pharmaceutical Industry (BPI), an organization that is dedicated to furthering the health care system together.
German Digital Industry Association
The “digital industry” has four main pillars: Internet services, Internet contents, Internet service providing and software. The German Digital Industry Association (BVDW - Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft e.V.) is the interest group with the largest number of members in this industry in Europe.
German Wind Energy Association
Wind as a source of energy: when wind turbines rotate, they transform motion into electricity. The German Wind Energy Association (BWE) works to expand the number of environmentally friendly wind parks currently in operation. As the world‘s largest association in the field of renewable energies, this association forms the central contact and bundles the know-how in this industry.
Confederation of German Employers‘ Associations
The Confederation of German Employers‘ Associations (Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände, BDA) brings together employers‘ associations and their umbrella organizations from industry, services, the skilled trades and agriculture.
German Food Industry Association
Representing the food industry: The German Food Industry Association (BVE) is the economic umbrella organization of the industry. The BVE represents the interests of one of the most important branches of industry in Germany vis-à-vis politics, administration, market partners and the general public. The aim is to increase the competitive edge of the companies.
German Construction Industry
With 750.000 employees, the Confederation of the German Construction Industry (Hauptverband der Deutschen Bauindustrie) represents the interests of the single branch of industry. The website displays the building blocks of the federal sections (Bundesfachabteilungen), regional associations, other organizations and construction portals.
The Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce
German entrepreneurs within the country – except for craftsmen’s workshops, the liberal professions and agricultural holdings – are by law members of Germany’s more than 80 Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs). The umbrella organization is the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) with more than 3.5 million entrepreneurs. Abroad, there are German Chambers of Commerce (AHKs) offices in more than 80 countries around the globe from Argentina to Vietnam.
Association of the German Insurance Industry
Which one to choose? Those hoping to insure themselves well are often intimidated by the huge range of options. Who insures what? The Association of the German Insurance Industry (Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft e.V., GDV) answers this question on its homepage for the more than 460 member companies it represents.
Chambers of Industry and Commerce
Definitively Germany’s largest business organization: all German companies are members of one of the country’s 80 chambers of industry and commerce, excepting only businesses which have their own chambers, such as craftsmen, agriculture and freelance professions. For that reason alone the public-law IHKs and their amalgamation, the Association of Chambers of Commerce (Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag, DIHK), are predestined to be forums for the exchange of business knowledge.
German Solar Industry Federation
The sun, the powerhouse of our solar system, provides our Earth with light and warmth day after day. The German Solar Industry Federation (BSW) tries to harness this power to transform its warming rays into useful energy. Representing the interests of the German solar industry, the BSW acts as a mediator between industry, politics and consumers. It is the solar industry federation with the most members in all of Europe.
German Association of the Automotive Industry
The German Association of the Automotive Industry (Verband der deutschen Automobilindustrie e.V., VDA) has existed for more than 110 years. This umbrella organization brings together over 620 industrial manufacturers of automobiles and motors, trailers, body superstructures and containers as well as automobile parts and equipment.
VDMA – German Federation of the Engineering Industries
As an engineering network, the German Federation of the Engineering Industries (VDMA – Verband der Investitionsgüterindustrie) offers its members, large companies and medium-sized enterprises alike, an opportunity to take part in common activities and to exchange thoughts and ideas.
Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies
Teamwork for new technologies: the Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies (Verband der Elektrotechnik, Elektronik und Informationstechnik e.V., VDE) is one of Europe’s largest technical and scientific associations. Its activities range from support for research and young scientists in key technologies to the development of technical standards.
The German Confederation of Skilled Trades
The skilled trades is the most widely diverse branch of industry in Germany. The German Confederation of Skilled Trades (ZDH) includes Chambers of Trades and Crafts, central trade associations in the skilled trades as well as important economic and scientific institutions related to this field. The ZDH represents the interests of the members of the skilled trades.
German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers‘ Association
The ZVEI represents the interests of its members on a national and international level. The ZVEI is the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers‘ Association (Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e.V.). The umbrella organization with over 1600 member companies promotes the development of new technologies and provides information on the economic, technical and legal situation of the electronics industry in Germany.