The vast array of support services in the field of foreign trade promotion and development cooperation often appears to local and German companies like a jungle of uncoordinated individual measures. Currently, it is only possible to a limited extent to present companies at home and abroad with a needs-oriented offer that covers the entire range of relevant support options.

The state-financed advisory structures for foreign trade promotion and development cooperation should be consolidated in Germany with a view to the companies to be advised. Virtual funding guides are a step in the right direction. However, the long-term goal should be to centrally inform companies and the business organisations representing them about the full spectrum of support services and offers. The following market entry consultations for companies are taken over by foreign trade organisations. Therefore, business organisations should be closely involved in the development of new, more transparent advisory structures.

On the ground in partner countries, so-called Business Scouts at the AHKs can make an important contribution to a uniform appearance for Team Germany. They are predominantly financed by the BMZ and are employed as integrated specialists at the AHKs. Due to their function at the interfaces, they have a good overview of the spectrum of instruments available to companies for development cooperation and foreign trade promotion. In Germany, too, the instruments of German development cooperation could be disseminated more efficiently to selected target groups in the private sector. For this purpose, the increased use of Business Scouts at specialist associations and IHKs should also be sought.

2.1 Strengthening sequa programmes

With its shareholder and programme structure, sequa embodies the interplay between foreign trade promotion and development cooperation like no other company. In particular, the BMZ-financed projects of sequa are characterised by their focus on PPP measures. With its approximately 100 employees, sequa can quickly react to foreign trade and geopolitical developments in partner countries in the form of projects. Engagements in Ukraine and on the topic of migration are exemplary of this unique selling point of sequa.

Chamber partnerships (CVPs), vocational training partnerships (BBPs), and the Import Promotion Desk (IPD) form the interface between development policy support and private sector engagement. The success of these programmes results from the goal of building structures that contribute to the development of the partner country well beyond the duration of the project. They are also of great relevance to German companies: BBPs promote the training of skilled workers, which investors depend on for their local engagement. KVPs support local business organisations, which play an important role in initiating business cooperations and building economic development structures locally. And the IPD focuses on the needs of German and European companies for products from the Global South ("sourcing").

The IPD, with its focus on agricultural sector cooperation, particularly embodies the partnership concept of German development cooperation: Agriculture is the sector with the highest number of employees in many developing and emerging countries – both in the formal and informal sectors. Food security, import substitution and exports to the EU play a significant role in these countries. It is not only about creating qualified jobs but also stabilising foreign exchange budgets in emerging and developing countries. This explains the strong demand by partner governments for IPD involvement. Therefore, it should be one of the priorities of the federal government to expand cooperation in this sector.

2.2 Raw materials as a strategic focus of development cooperation – involving existing structures

German development cooperation should focus more strongly on the raw materials sector in the future. Such a focus can only be implemented effectively and sustainably if it consistently builds on existing structures.

In particular, the German Mining and Resources Network, which includes the Raw Materials Competence Centres of the Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs), represents a central platform that bundles technical know-how, international experience, and economic interests. The AHKs have detailed market knowledge, long-standing relationships with local players and are important bridges between German companies and partner countries. The network is funded by the BMWE. Partners include the German Raw Materials Agency, Germany Trade and Invest, associations, companies, and research institutions. A joint approach should already be found in strategic planning, as AHKs work in partnership with representatives of German development cooperation at many locations.

An overriding requirement for integrating the topic of raw materials should also be the congruence of objectives between the different interests of development cooperation and the raw material security for companies.

The primary concerns of companies in the raw materials sector are: supply security in Germany, investment protection, economic efficiency, diversification/resilience, and access to markets and resources. These concerns can be excellently combined with the needs of partner countries for local value creation, guaranteed purchase contracts, high social and ecological standards, training of skilled workers, financing options, etc.

The interests of companies and development cooperation must be linked. By coordinated objectives and using existing structures, such as the German Mining and Resources Network and the AHKs, a coherent, effective, and responsible contribution to global resource governance can be made. Therefore, the AHKs should play an important role in further developing and implementing the German raw materials strategy.

2.3 Further developing and aligning large-scale formats

The interlinking of the concerns of development cooperation and foreign trade promotion should also be reflected at large-format economic conferences with or in developing and emerging countries.

The G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) Initiative, for example, should be further developed by the federal government. The goal should remain to promote good governance in selected African countries and improve financing options for these states and the private sector. The biennial meeting at the level of heads of state and government is accompanied by a G20 Investment Summit. The federal government should further develop the format so that the focus on private sector investments and projects is strengthened. African countries that have not yet joined the initiative should be offered participation as guests.

The Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) should be further developed into an economic conference: The HSC, financed by the BMZ, brings decision-makers from developing and emerging countries together with German and international companies and representatives of multilateral organisations in Hamburg once a year. The conference should extend its focus from classical development policy issues to concrete economic measures. This would not least correspond to the concerns of the target groups in business and politics in developing and emerging countries and thus also strengthen the idea of partner orientation of German development cooperation within the framework of this conference.