Contacts

A.  Country Contacts
Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
Bundesministerium fuer Wirtschaft & Technologie
http://www.bmwi.de

Germany Trade and Invest
http://www.gtai.com

Federal Ministry of Finance
Bundesministerium der Finanzen
http://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de

B.  Country Trade Associations/Chambers of Commerce
Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V. (BDI)
(Federation of German Industries)
http://www.bdi-online.de

Deutscher Industrie und Handelskammertag (DIHK)
(Federation of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce)
http://www.dihk.de

Bundesverband des Deutschen Gross- und Aussenhandels e.V. (BGA)
(Federation of German Wholesale and Foreign Trade)
http://www.bga.de

Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Eletronikindustrie e.V. (ZVEI)
(German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association)
http://www.zvei.de

Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e.V. (VDMA)
(German Association of Machinery and Plant Manufacturers)
www.vdma.org

Centralvereinigung Deutscher Handelsvertreter- und Handelsmakler-Verbaende (CDH)
(General Association of Commercial Agents and Brokers)
http://www.cdh.de

C.  Country Market Research Firms
It would exceed the scope of this guide to list even only the major market research or consultant companies. Most of these firms belong to one or both of the following associations and can be contacted through these:

Bundesverband Deutscher Unternehmensberater e.V. (BDU)
(Federal Association of German Consultants)
http://www.bdu.de

Arbeitskreis Deutscher Markt- und Sozialforschungsinstitute e.V. (ADM)
(Federation of German Market and Social Research Institutes)
http://adm-ev.de

D. Country Commercial Banks
There are numerous domestic and foreign banks represented in Germany; among the largest German institutions are:

Deutsche Bank AG    http://www.deutsche-bank.de

Commerzbank AG    http://www.commerzbank.com

Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG http://www.hypovereinsbank.de

Deutsche Postbank AG   http://www.postbank.de

E. U.S. Embassy Trade Personnel
United States Embassy, Berlin http://www.usembassy.de
Commercial Service   http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/berlin.html

U.S. Consulates
Dusseldorf  http://duesseldorf.usconsulate.gov
Commercial Service http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/duesseldorf.html

Frankfurt/Main  http://frankfurt.usconsulate.gov
Commercial Service http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/frankfurt.html

Hamburg  http://hamburg.usconsulate.gov

Leipzig   http://leipzig.usconsulate.gov

Munich   http://munich.usconsulate.gov
Commercial Service http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/munich.html

F. Washington-based USG Country Contacts
U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
http://www.trade.gov

U.S. Department of State
http://www.state.gov

USDA - Foreign Agricultural Service, Agricultural Export Services Division. The website has trade and production statistics, exporter assistance information, marketing information, trade policy news and links to the attaché reports.
http://www.fas.usda.gov
 
U.S. Department of the Treasury
http://www.ustreas.gov

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Office of Europe and the Mediterranean
http://www.ustr.gov

G. U.S.-based Multipliers
German Missions in the United States
http://www.germany.info

CMA - German Agricultural Marketing Board, North American Office
http://www.germanfoods.org

German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (Headquarters)
http://www.gaccny.com

German Representative for Industry and Trade
http://www.rgit-usa.com

H. Other Contacts
http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/contact.html - U.S. Commercial Service Germany’s trade specialists can help you identify trade opportunities, find local trading partners, launch your company, and obtain market research reports.

http://www.export.gov - U.S. Government Export Portal

http://www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion - As EU member states harmonize their regulations and increase their economic integration, a direct connection to the U.S. Commercial Service at the U.S. Mission to the European Union can be the key to success in the EU market.

http://www.amcham.de - American Chamber of Commerce in Germany

http://www.agbc.de - American-German Business Club

http://www.agbc-berlin.de - American German Business Club Berlin

http://www.fas.usda.gov - The Foreign Agricultural Service website has trade and production statistics, exporter assistance information, marketing information, trade policy news and links to the attaché reports.

Agricultural Affairs Office
American Embassy/Berlin
Clayallee 170
14195 Berlin, Germany
Tel: [49][30] 8305-1150
Fax: [49][30] 8431-1935
Email: Agberlin@N0SPAM.usda.gov
http://germany.usembassy.gov/germany/fas/index.html

http://www.useu.be/agri/ - The Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Mission to the European Union has a very comprehensive website on EU food laws, import requirements, and duties and quotas.

http://www.tradestatsexpress.gov - provides statistical data on trade between the United States and Germany.

http://www.bundesbank.de - provides information and key indicators on Germany’s economy.

Market Research

To view market research reports produced by the U.S. Commercial Service please go to the following website: http://www.export.gov/mrktresearch and click on Country and Industry Market Reports.

Please note that these reports are only available to U.S. citizens and U.S. companies. Registration to the site is required, but free of charge.

http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/marketresearch.html - Comprehensive and up-to-date information about the German market and the export potential for U.S. products and services

http://www.buyusa.gov/europe/ - The Showcase Europe website of the U.S. Commercial Service provides trade opportunities, new business partners, market research and one-on-one assistance.

http://www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion/tender_search.html - Public Procurement Opportunities in Europe

Agricultural Reports
Attaché Reports
Attaché reports provide information on market opportunities, crop conditions, new policy developments and information on the German food industry. Some standard reports include: Retail Market Report, Exporter Guide, Food Service Report, and market briefs on wine, seafood, and other select products. Attaché reports can be found at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/attacherep/default.asp. In recent years, many of the German reports have been consolidated and are submitted as EU reports. We recommend that companies interested in the German market also review the EU reports.

American Food Directory
The Agricultural Affairs Office has produced a food directory entitled "American Foods in Europe (AFE) 2004 Directory of European Importers of U.S. Food and Beverage Products". The AFE directory contains listings of about 200 European companies, from 16 European countries within the EU-25, handling about 500 branded and a wide assortment of generic U.S. food and beverage products available in Europe. The directory is a useful resource for retailers, hotels, caterers, restaurants and others seeking to purchase U.S. food or beverage products but who do not wish to import directly. In addition to a hardcopy, an Internet version of the 2004 Directory is available at   http://www.american-foods.org/, http://www.fas.usda.gov

Trade Events

Please click on the link below for information on upcoming trade events:
http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/events.html

Directory of important trade fairs in Germany and the U.S.
http://www.export.gov/tradeevents/

For some of the major trade shows being held in Germany that are dedicated to the food and agricultural sector and products, please see: http://www.usembassy.de/germany/fas_tradeshows.html
Note: The promotional events listed are provided for informational purposes only. No endorsement should be implied unless specifically stated.