The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) magazine of the Financial Times Group recently awarded Hamburg as "European City of the Future 2004/05".
According to the British jurors, this German city offers particularly good opportunities for foreign direct investment. A high cost effectiveness compared to other metropolises, and a large amount of investment were among the 33 criteria the jury considered.
Trade and Logistics, Services and Media, Aviation Industry and Life Sciences are the pillars of the Hamburg economy. With a main port handling more than 6 million containers (TEU), Hamburg is the number 1 hub for goods exchanged between Asia and Europe. Asian companies often use Hamburg as their European headquarters, in order to develop their German and European markets. Not only is Germany a strong consumer market, but Hamburg also is the best location to explore the emerging market of Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. Hamburg offers extensive services to companies - among them some 50 from Taiwan-, comprising specialist banking and insurance, logistics services to European and overseas destinations, affordable real estate and a strong world wide network of business relations.
These intriguing circumstances attract international investment. Olympus Europe has been headquartered in Hamburg for over 40 years now, continuously investing in their logistics premises. China Shipping is investing into a new company building in a recent urban development: the so called HafenCity is one of the most exciting developments of a former port site.
Only a short walk from the town hall and the central business district, in this lively urban quarter modern buildings are emerging on a 100 ha zone with a gross floor area of 1.8 million square meters, creating housing for 12,000 inhabitants and office space providing 40,000 jobs. The area offers stunning views of the Elbe river and the beautiful old warehouse district "Speicherstadt". These are the surroundings China Shipping staff will enjoy after their move. Due to the strong port position, the largest Asian shipping companies are present in Hamburg, like Evergreen, Yangming, Wanhai from Taiwan, the Japanese K-Line, Korean Hanjin, and Chinese Cosco or Sinotrans. Moreover, Hamburg's trading tradition attracts all kinds of companies: electronics companies like Acer Computer, BenQ, Chicony Electronics, QDI Legend Holding, Haier Group, Panasonic, Sharp, Canon - and many other. They all consider Hamburg as an excellent basis for their business activities in Germany and Europe.
Hamburg's multinational atmosphere is open to all newcomers who can easily feel at home. A wide variety of shops, restaurants, musicals, theaters, sports offer pleasing pastimes. Affordable housing for any taste, smooth transportation, international schools and university courses ensure a high standard of living for business people and their families. Green parks and a stretch of water are never far. So, apart from the promising business opportunities, Hamburg is also a secure, varied and friendly place to live.
HWF Hamburgische Gesellschaft fuer Wirtschaftsfoerderung mbH c/o German Trade Office Taipei Min-Sheng E. Rd., Sec. 3, No. 4, Fl. 4 Taipei, Taiwan
Tel: 02-2506-9028 Ext. 305
E-mail: mschwarz@dwb-taipei.org.tw
Website: www.hwf-hamburg.de
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