German economy

Contact

Melanie Vogelbach Managing Director International Economic Policy

+49 30 20308 2310 vogelbach.melanie@dihk.de

Economic Policy

The Chambers of Commerce and Industry are committed in the regions to strengthening the business location and improving framework conditions for companies: whether this involves, for example, a better transport infrastructure, lower tax burdens or issues of regional subsidies and urban development – the Chambers of Commerce and Industry are competent partners and voice of the regional economy!

In coordination with the CCIs in the regions, the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) advocates a policy to the political decision-makers in Berlin and Brussels which is consistent with the overall interests of the industrial economy: less bureaucracy, simpler and more transparent tax law, as well as the strengthening of Germany's competitiveness as a business location are right at the top of the agenda.

In other countries the Chambers of Commerce Abroad represent the interests of local German companies; at the same time the Chambers of Commerce Abroad attempt to obtain investments in Germany as a business location and help companies in this country in opening up foreign markets.

Economic Policy Positions of the German DIHK and its members

"Shaping the Future, strengthening Investments": This is the title of the Economic Policy Positions, the German CCI-Organisation formulated in 2017. Since then, they have been updated several times.

Lorry in the rain in front of a construction site

Economic Survey February 2025

The German economy is facing another year of crisis in 2025. This is according to the latest economic survey conducted by the DIHK, in which around 23,000 companies from all sectors and regions in Germany took part. "We must be prepared for economic output in Germany to fall for the third time in a row", said DIHK Managing Director Helena Melnikov in Berlin.

Concerned businessmen and -women look into a computer screen

Economic Survey Fall 2024

"Too little investment, too much bureaucracy, and excessively high location costs–the German economy is stuck. It's losing ground in Europe and internationally," summarized DIHK Chief Executive Martin Wansleben when presenting the results of the latest DIHK Economic Survey on October 29 in Berlin.

Businessman and other passengers waiting at a bus stop

Economic Survey Early Summer 2024

The upswing remains elusive. This is demonstrated by the DIHK Economic Survey for Early Summer 2024, presented on May 23, in which more than 24,000 companies from all sectors and regions participated. According to the survey, a weak domestic economy and tangible structural challenges continue to grip the economy.

Solar park and wind turbine in the sunset

Energy Transition Barometer 2024

High prices and the lack of predictability in energy supply are more than ever hindering production and investment for companies in Germany. This is shown by the nationwide Energy Transition Barometer 2024 of the CCI Organization which was presented by the DIHK in August.

GDPR-Survey February 2024

Even after six years, the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) remains one of the biggest bureaucratic burdens for German businesses. This is the result of a survey conducted by the German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) among 4,900 companies from almost all sectors.

Smoking industrial chimneys against blue sky

Energy problems burden production in Germany

Confidence in energy policy among German businesses is currently at an all-time low. This is shown by the IHK organization's Energy Transition Barometer 2023, in which 3,572 companies from all sectors and regions took part. It shows the worst value since the start of the surveys in 2012.

More Information

The DIHK organisation contributes to the debate on current topics with idea papers, comments or position papiers, checklists and other information: