newsletter - World Trade Center - Frankfurt(Oder)

newsletter
Business in Berlin, Brandenburg &
the German-Polish Border Region
EDITION I/2012
Brandenburg – a top location for business / 2012 survey by Ernst & Young
In the national business rankings, Brandenburg has risen to become one
of Germany‘s top locations. According to the 2012 barometer for medium
and small-sized businesses by Ernst & Young Business Consultants, the
eastern German state climbed up several places from 13th last year to
5th this year. The survey found that 44 percent of companies - twice as
many as a year ago - are entirely satisfied with general conditions in the
region. Progress in infrastructure (where Brandenburg even managed
place 3 nationally) and its policies for funding and for medium-sized
business also received a particularly positive assessment. Representatives
from 3,000 medium-sized business were questioned for the survey,
which is carried out every six months, 75 of which were based in Brandenburg.
| more info (german only)
Berlin – visitors flock to the world‘s largest tourism trade fair ITB
The 46th ITB in Berlin was characterised by greater numbers of trade
visitors, more business deals concluded by exhibitors and a surge of
visitors to the ITB Berlin Kongress. 113,006 trade visitors (39.7 % of
whom were from abroad) took the opportunity to visit 10,644 exhibitors
from 187 countries representing all sectors in the international travel
and tourism industry. 59,126 visitors from Berlin and Brandenburg also
took the chance to inform themselves about holiday destinations and
special offers on travel. At the ITB this year, Brandenburg & Berlin were
again jointly represented by a 1,600 m² trade fair stand. Information and
offers about the cultural theme for 2012, the 300th birthday of Frederick
the Great, and for activity holidays were particularly in demand. With
Brandenburg being established as a paradise for cyclists, interest in
hiking in the region is also significantly on the increase now. | more info
From April 2012 onwards, the KV-Terminal in Frankfurt (Oder) will
be operated by the Polish stock marked-listed company PCC Intermodal
for a contract period of 20 years. PCC Intermodal has been one
of the terminal‘s biggest users for years now. At present, more than
30 container-block-trains pass the terminal on a regular basis every
week. In Frankfurt (Oder), which acts as an East-West logistics hub,
trains are newly assembled and goods are loaded onto HGVs or from
lorries onto trains. Together with Frankfurt (Oder) City Council, the
new operator is planning to further expand the terminal. This shall
include, among other things, the erection of a gantry train across the
tracks and the development of adjacent areas for logistics companies.
| more info
Businesses praised Brandenburg‘s infrastructure. The opening of the new
Berlin-Brandenburg airport in summer 2012 will ensure a further benefit
for the region (photo: access road to new terminal). The major airport hub,
which will offer direct flights worldwide, will have its own autobahn junction
and a railway station directly beneath the terminal. (Photo: Marion
Schmieding/Alexander Obst/Airport Berlin Brandenburg)
A relaxed atmosphere during a tour of the trade fair on the opening day
- here, Klaus Wowereit, the incumbent Mayor of Berlin, visits the Mexican
trade fair stand. The ITB is a powerful platform for the international
travel and tourism industry. With an exhibitor turnover of around 5 billion
euros and an exhibitor satisfaction rate of 92 percent, it is clearly an ideal
meeting point for supply and demand. (Photo: ITB)
New operator for Intermodal Terminal (KV-Terminal) in Frankfurt (Oder)
Trains travelling via Frankfurt (Oder) include those providing a connection
from the southern Silesian industrial region, the Polish Baltic Coast
or, from the start of December 2011, from the Russian capital Moscow to
the international ports of Rotterdam, Bremerhaven and Hamburg. (Photo:
Kuhnert Medien)
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newsletter
Business in Berlin, Brandenburg &
the German-Polish Border Region
EDITION I/2012
Third world record for Eisenhuettenstadt paper mill
The list of speed world records by PM2, the Progroup corrugated base
paper factory in Eisenhuettenstadt, is becoming longer and longer. At
the start of the year, the paper mill and its site team set another world
record - its third in brief succession. Production at the gigantic paper
mill ran at an average speed of 1,675 m/min for a period of 24 hours,
which constituted a new record. The 10.85 m wide PM2 is therefore the
first paper mill for corrugated base paper to attain an average production
speed of more than 100 km/h. Yet there is far more to the ultra-modern
production plant than speed records. Equipped with large-scale systems
for energy and wastewater management, it also conforms with the new
European Union Infrastructure Programme for the conservation of sustainable
resources. | more info
Berlin selected as Twitter capital
The social networking service Twitter has chosen Berlin as the location
for its German branch. The German capital city was chosen on account
of Berlin‘s increasing significance as a boom town for the Internet,
with a plethora of start-ups and experts from the IT sector. Twitter has
around 140 million active users around the world, who publish around
340 million tweets per day. With its branch in Berlin Twitter is hoping to
drive business in Germany further forward, with operations in Germany
previously having been controlled from London. Managing Director of
Twitter Germany will be Rowan Barnett, who was hitherto responsible
for social media at the Springer Publishing House. Likewise e-auctioneer
eBay has located it‘s German headquarter in Dreilinden, between Berlin
and Potsdam, for many years now. | more info
Logistics market in Berlin-Brandenburg set for record
The logistics market in the German Capital Region of Berlin-Brandenburg
continues to be on course for a record. Research by BNP Paribas Real
Estate recently showed that, with a surface turnover of 434,000 m², 2011
has already surpassed what was a very good result in 2010 by 7%. Together
with Hamburg (surface turnover of 745,000 m²) and Frankfurt
am Main (surface turnover of 498,000 m²), Berlin-Brandenburg is thus
one of the top 3 logistics locations in Germany. With around 180,000
employees, the logistics sector is among the business sectors with the
highest employment rates in the German Capital Region and, as a key
sector in the cross-border cluster of transport, mobility and logistics,
subject to special financial and operational support by the local and the
state government. | more info
Performances of workers in Eisenhuettenstadt have been recognised by
Jürgen Heindl, CEO of Progroup AG: „Three world records in a row in
such a short time are an impressive example of how motivated, highlyqualified
teams can together obtain the maximum from modern papermanufacturing
technology.“ (Photo: Progroup)
Berlin is currently experiencing a boom in start-ups in the IT and online
sectors, for which it is attracting talents from around the world. According
to the Berlin-Brandenburg Statistics Bureau, each year just over 1900 new
companies are founded in the area of information and communications –
an average of five new business per day. (Photo: Fotolia, Kuhnert Medien)
In spring 2012 Dachser, one of the largest logistics companies in Berlin-
Brandenburg, will be commencing construction of a new 7,200 m² goods
transfer station for food in Schoenefeld, which will enable simultaneous
loading and unloading of 76 vehicles. Following completion of the new
hall, the previous food transfer station will be used for industrial commodities,
freeing up 10,500 m² in total and 115 gates for this purpose.
(Photo: Dachser)
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newsletter
Business in Berlin, Brandenburg &
the German-Polish Border Region
EDITION I/2012
Newsticker
First Solar wins top employer prize for third time
On 8th March, prizes for „Germany‘s best employers of 2012“ were awarded at a ceremony in Berlin by Great Place to Work®-
Institute. Among the winners was the solar company First Solar Manufacturing GmbH, which is based in Frankfurt (Oder) in
East Brandenburg and was awarded the prize for the third time. A total of 100 companies of all sizes and from all sectors
and regions were commended for their outstanding quality and attractiveness as employers. | more info
ifo Index: Mood of optimism for economy in Germany
For the fifth month in succession, the mood in industry in Germany improved surprisingly in March. Experts see the continuing
rise in the economic barometer as a sign of stability. The mood improved in the German retail sector in particular.
Brandenburg to open representation in Szczecin in Poland
Brandenburg is planning to open its own representation in Szczecin in Poland in 2012. Areas in which Brandenburg intends
to work together with its Polish neighbour include science, tourism, logistics and culture. It is also intended to assist
collaborations between companies, public authorities and other associations.
Funding for German-Polish projects
According to the Pro Europa Viadrina Euroregion, the European Union has approved funding for more than 70 German-Polish
projects. These include, for example, a skipper tour on the River Oder, to be jointly organised by the cities of Frankfurt
(Oder) and Kostrzyn. Subsidies will also be provided, for instance, for a young care workers‘ workshop at the College for
Health Professionals in Eisenhüttenstadt (Oder-Spree) and for a vocational training school for medical professionals in
Zielona Gora in Poland.
Contact
Christopher Nüßlein
WTC Frankfurt (Oder) - Slubice
Phone: +49 335 557-1300
info@wtcbb.de
Gordon Wohlgemuth
Chamber of Industry & Commerce
(CIC) East Brandenburg
Phone: +49 335 5621-1432
wohlgemuth@ihk-ostbrandenburg.de
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Imprint
WORLD TRADE CENTER FRANKFURT (ODER) - SLUBICE,
operated by Investor Center Ostbrandenburg GmbH
Im Technologiepark 1, D-15236 Frankfurt (Oder), Germany
Phone: +49 335 557-1300, Fax: +49 335 557-1310, E-Mail: info@wtcbb.de
www.wtcbb.de | www.icob.de | www.ihk-ostbrandenburg.de
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