To visit Hessen, to settle here – is a bit like coming home. Almost everyone who moves to Hessen discovers a thriving community of fellow countryment, a little piece of home.

People from more than 195 countries feel at home in Hessen and make the state economically, socially and culturally a multifaceted center of exchange and cooperation. Whether due to its economic significance or its excellent international infrastructure, whether due to the world's largest commodity futures exchange or the world-renowned trade fairs – for many countries and companies, Hessen is an attractive gateway to Germany and Europe.

Many of the people living in Hessen today are themselves not original or "dyed-in-the-wool" Hessians and therefore know exactly how it feels to be the newcomer. The integration of other nations in Hessen has been a tradition for centuries. Over the course of Hessen's history, many merchants promoted an awareness of the wider world among the local Hessians. Thus, the character of Hessen has long been marked by welcoming others with open arms, by helpfulness and tolerance.

Today, in the 21st century, all indications point toward Hessen being designated as "Germany's most international economic region". The financial and trading center of Frankfurt is the best proof of Hessen's global business connections. More than 300 banks from more than 50 countries are represented here, in Europe's leading financial center. This is where Deutsche Bundesbank and the European Central Bank operate their global financial business. And Deutsche Börse ensures that the services center of Frankfurt ranks among the leading stock exchange trading centers in the world.

Frankfurt ranks among the very best European cities as a center of trade. With 53 trade fairs attracting up to 2.5 million visitors each year, Messe Frankfurt is the continent's oldest and largest trade fair location. The global importance of Frankfurt as a trade fair location is highlighted by internationally renowned trade fairs, such as the International Motor Show (International Automobil-Ausstellung, IAA), the Book Fair and the Tendence and Ambiente consumer goods fairs. Over two thirds of the more than 40,000 exhibitors travel here each year from around the world.

Its many international connections make Hessen the most attractive choice for foreign investments in Germany. About one quarter of all direct foreign investments go to Hessen. Major international corporations, such as ABB, Amazon, Bombardier, Braun-Gilette, Canon, Dunlop, Ferrero, General Motors, Haier Electronics, Motorola, Nikon, Procter & Gamble, Sanofi-Aventis or Samsung serve the German and European markets from bases in Hessen.

This means that foreign employees and their families find numerous typical national shops and restaurants and, above all, an outstanding selection of international educational facilities in addition to their own communities, some of which – such as the American, Korean and Chinese communities - are the largest in Germany. In Frankfurt alone, international students have three renowned schools to choose from: FIS (Frankfurt International School) – Europe's second largest international school, ISF (International School Frankfurt) and EFSI – the European School.

Communities

International schools

Partner regions

Trade fairs 

"Nine good reasons to invest in Hessen"

Initial introduction to Hessen as a business region, available in various languages.

Initial introduction

Watch the 3:40 minute video of the Newcomers Festival 2008 in Frankfurt City Hall (Römer), which had 5,000 visitors and 95 exhibitors
www.newcomers-festival.de

Study Published: Korea and Japan – Significant Partners of the Hessian Economy

Intensively and dynamically developing foreign trade relationships influence growth and prosperity in the exporting nation of Germany and the especially internationally focused business center of Hessen. Attractive business centers draw in international investors, offer jobs and thus contribute to the development of the local economy. In the study, Korea, Japan and their economies were briefly presented as key figures, the trade and direct investment relationships between Korea, Japan and Hessen were described and the local performance of the Korean and Japanese companies located in Hessen were analyzed. (Available only in German)

Korea

Japan

The Department of Trade and Industry of the State of Hessen promotes the economy of Hessen with a network of cooperative appointees and representative offices in the process of international economic co-operations. At the center are needs of small and medium-sized businesses during market entrance and during the development of expanding markets abroad.

Foreign Representative Offices