Canadian Companies in Eastern Germany to Benefit From New Berlin Airport

BERLIN and TORONTO, Oct. 6 /CNW/ - The twenty year anniversary of the reunification of Germany this week put the spotlight back on the formerly divided country and its capital, Berlin. Located at the center of Eastern Germany, Berlin now boasts one of the world's most impressive infrastructure projects, Berlin Brandenburg International Airport. The airport adds to the region's portfolio as an international, high-tech business location, which is underscored by the presence of several leading Canadian companies in the surrounding region.

Germany Trade & Invest will be presenting business opportunities in Eastern Germany to Canadian companies at an event in Toronto on October 7, 2010.

Berlin Brandenburg International Airport, slated to open in July of 2012, will serve the growing number of passengers to the region, with the ability to expand to serve 45 million travelers annually. At the same time, the airport provides an international hub in the center of Eastern Germany, a region currently characterized by growth in a number of cutting-edge fields like renewable energies, auto manufacturing and semiconductors. This project is expected to further attract businesses to the dynamic region.

The investor event on October 7, billed "Check in to Eastern Germany for European Business Success", will present new opportunities in the region arising from the opening of Berlin Brandenburg International Airport in 2012, including business success stories in the region from senior executives Jacques L'Ecuyer, President and Chief Executive Officer, 5N Plus Inc., and Bernard Betts, Vice President of Worldwide Distribution Operations for Future Electronics.

Canada is a leading source of foreign direct investment in Eastern Germany due to the region's growth potential, stable investment environment and concentration of high-tech industries. Several world renowned Canadian companies have chosen sites in Eastern Germany, including Bombardier, Arise Technologies, and Novelis, in addition to 5N Plus and Future Electronics.

Germany remains a top European destination for Canadian investments. Ranked fifth worldwide by a recent World Economic Forum study on business locations, Germany is especially praised by international decision makers for its outstanding transport and communications infrastructure as well as the world's best innovation capacity, according to the study. A testament to this solid business framework, Germany's economy grew by 2.2 percent last quarter, the highest quarterly result since reunification.

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

For further information: Germany Trade & Invest, Eva Henkel, Email: [email protected], T: [phone], F: [phone]