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Business
Business Profile
With the massive task of marrying a Capitalist and a Communist economic system, Germany has had a turbulent time since reunification in 1990. During the Cold War, West Berlin was a heavily subsidised island of capitalism, while East Berlin, under the Communist system, had very little private enterprise. In the intervening years, the city has had to deal with massive unemployment, as inefficient East German industries were shut down. Berlin also had to make a massive investment in modernising and integrating the infrastructure of the city’s two halves. Private and public investment is estimated to be €102 billion by 2003.
The city that has emerged from a forest of skyscrapers might look impressive but this facade hides the fact that Berlin is massively in debt – although austerity measures should help to improve the situation. Many new offices lie empty and the rate of unemployment rose from 15% in 1999 to 18.7% in 2003, well above the national average at 11.1%.
Many people in the Berlin business community presumed that the city would emerge as the gateway between East and West, thanks to numerous East Berliners speaking Russian and having a familiarity with the business and social conventions of the former Eastern Bloc. In reality, many international firms have cut out the middleman and saved money by locating directly in Prague and Budapest. However, Berlin’s trade with Russia and the Czech Republic increased at a higher rate than average in 2000. And, over the last year or so, there has been a new sense of optimism, as more and more of the colossal building projects become a part of the city’s life.
Berlin has regained the status of capital of Germany and the German economy is again growing in strength. Simultaneously the economic decision-making power is shifting from the Western centre in the Ku’damm area to the new centre around Potsdamer Platz, Unter den Linden and Friedrichstrasse.
Among the big names in the new Potsdamer Platz developments are DaimlerChrysler, Sony, Hertie, Berliner Volksbank and ABB, while major companies with offices in the city include Allianz (insurance), Bertelsmann (publishing), Deutsche Bank, DG Bank and KPMG (finance) and Sony- Europa (electronics). Key industries in the city include the electrical, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, food processing and heavy machinery, equipment manufacturing and, increasingly, tourism – Berlin is now Germany’s number one tourist destination and the Film Festival alone brings in approximately €30 million a year. A new solar energy centre has also opened in the Eastern area of the city. Overall, 36% of employees work in the service sector, 33% in manufacturing and industry, 13% in trade and transport and 18% in government.
In terms of convention venues, there is the Internationales Congress Centrum (ICC), Messedamm 22 (tel: (030) 303 3000; fax: (030) 3038 3030; website: www.messe-berlin.de or www.icc-berlin.com). The Industrie-und Handelskammer Berlin (Berlin Chamber of Commerce) is located at Fasanenstrasse 85 (tel: (030) 315 100; fax: (030) 3151 0166; website: www.berlin.ihk.de).
Business Etiquette
Germans are very businesslike while at work and this shows in their expectations for punctuality, formal manners and attention to detail. It is common to answer the telephone by stating one’s last name, rather than saying ‘hello’. People should be addressed by their titles (such as Herr Doktor) and last name, until they indicate otherwise. Many businesspeople speak English but might prefer to conduct business in German. Likewise, business cards (which are used extensively) and business letters in English are acceptable, although supporting documentation should be translated. It is best for visitors to err on the conservative side of dress, certainly in the first instance.
Standard business hours are typically Monday to Friday 0800/0900–1600/1700, although, contrary to what many visitors expect, these hours can be less, as Germans have some of the shortest working hours in Western Europe. Meetings are usually between 1100 and 1300 or 1500 and 1700, although late afternoon appointments (other than on Friday) are not unusual. Business lunches are common (the person making the offer is expected to pay) but breakfast meetings are rare. So called ‘after-work parties’ are becoming increasingly popular ways for workers to meet colleagues and friends for drinks.
Business Services
Business Contacts: Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Berlin
Ludwig Erhard Haus, Fasanenstrasse 85, 10623 Berlin
Tel: (030) 3151 0333. Fax: (030) 3151 0106.
Website: www.berlin.ihk.de
German-British Chamber of Industry and Commerce (UK)
Mecklenburg House, 16 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB
Tel: (020) 7976 4100. Fax: (020) 7976 4101.
E-mail: mail@ahk-london.co.uk
Website: www.germanbritishchamber.co.uk
German-American Chamber of Commerce (USA)
31st Floor, 40 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019
Tel: (212) 974 8830. Fax: (212) 974 8867.
E-mail: info@gaccny.com
Website: www.gaccny.com
Canadian-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (Canada)
Suite 1410, 480 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1V2
Tel: (416) 598 3355. Fax: (416) 598 1840.
E-mail: info.toronto@germanchamber.ca
Website: www.germanchamber.ca
German-Australian Chamber of Commerce (Australia)
Level 2, St Andrews House, Sydney Square, Sydney, NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9265 2200. Fax: (02) 9265 2211.
E-mail: info@germany.org.au
Website: www.germany.org.au
Business library
Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung
(German Institute for Economic Research)
Street address: Königin-Luise-Strasse 5, 14195 Berlin
Postal address: Postfach, 14191 Berlin
Tel: (030) 897 890. Fax: (030) 8978 9200.
E-mail: postmaster@diw.de
Website: www.diw.de
Convention and meeting planner
Berlin Tourismus Marketing
Am Karlsbad 11, 10785 Berlin
Tel: (030) 2647 4827. Fax: (030) 2647 48924.
E-mail: meeting@btm.de
Website: www.btm.de or www.berlin-tourism.de
The Conference and Conventions Department can arrange accommodation, conference planning and catering for conference delegates.
Convention and meeting venues
Internationales Congress Centrum (ICC) Berlin
Messe Berlin GmbH
Messedamm 22, 14055 Berlin
Tel: (030) 3038 3000. Fax: (030) 3038 3030.
E-mail: icc-berlin-sales@messe-berlin.de
Website: www.icc-berlin.de
80 halls and rooms, with a capacity of 5000 in the largest. Facilities include simultaneous translation, video, slide and film (up to 70mm) projection, the second-largest stage in Europe, restaurants, shops, banking facilities, press and media room and VIP lounges. It can accommodate events combining trade fair and congress, as it is directly linked to the 160,000-sq-metre (1.7-million-sq-ft) exhibition grounds.
Velodrom and Max-Schmeling-Halle
Velomax Berlin Hallenbetriebs GmbH
Am Falkplatz, 10437 Berlin
Tel: (030) 443 045. Fax: (030) 4430 4709.
E-mail: info@velomax.de
Website: www.velomax.de
These are Berlin’s two largest events venues, each comprising an arena and adjacent function rooms. Both venues are in Prenzlauerberg – the Max-Schmeling-Halle is located at the above address and the Velodrom is located at Paul-Heyse-Strasse 26. With parliamentary-style seating, they have a capacity of 3134 and 4911, respectively.
Office equipment hire
Elakustik
Beschallungs- Konfernztechnik- Audio-Service GmbH
Landsberger Strasse 237, 12623 Berlin
Tel: (030) 5659 8330. Fax: (030) 5669 8134.
E-mail: info@elakustik.de
Website: www.elakustik.de
Audiovisual and conference equipment hire.
Secretarial service
Regus Business Centre GmbH
Unter den Linden 21, 10117 Berlin
Tel: (030) 2092 4000. Fax: (030) 2092 4200.
E-mail: berlin.lindencorso.75@regus.de
Website: www.regus.com
Translation services
Allround Fremdsprache von der Lühe
Scluterstrasse 21, 10625 Berlin
Tel: (030) 3150 3030. Fax: (030) 3150 3040.
Offers translation and interpretation to/from German, as well as between two third languages.
Intertext Fremdsprachdienst
Greifswalder Strasse 5, 10405 Berlin
Tel: (030) 421 016. Fax: (030) 4210 1702.
E-mail: intertext@t-online.de
Website: www.intertext.de
Translation (in over 70 languages) and simultaneous interpretation are available.
Unusual conference venue
Chamäleon Varieté
Rosenthaler Strasse 40-41, 10178 Berlin
Tel: (030) 238 5769. Fax: (030) 282 8638.
E-mail: chamaeleon@chamaeleonberlin.de
Website: www.chamaeleonberlin.de
The Jugendstil theatre has a capacity of up to 300 people.
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