Business cooperation

If you are looking to penetrate the European and German markets there are various different ways you can go about it. Foreign companies frequently choose business cooperation as the first stage in the process, i.e. foreign companies look for local companies as partners for the joint implementation of sales targets, production, or research and development of products.

Various organisations exist in Stuttgart to support both foreign and German companies in their search for suitable partner companies.

1. Baden-Württemberg International (bw-i)

The bw-i is the State of Baden-Württemberg's business development fund. It is responsible for marketing Baden-Württemberg as a business and science location, and it will help you to find suitable companies for your proposed cooperation, among other things. Please send all enquiries either to Mr Werner Vogel (e-mail: werner.vogel@bw-i.de, phone +49-711-22787-55) or to the Stuttgart Economic Development Department.

In addition, you can enter your company in the bw-i business exchange, or use it yourself to search for partners.

bw-i website:
www.bw-i.de

2. Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the Stuttgart region

The Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the Stuttgart region helps foreign companies in the search for suitable business cooperation partners, particularly in the trade and services sectors. It checks whether the existing database contains suitable companies and sends you the addresses of potential companies that might also be interested in cooperation. It is then up to you to approach these companies directly. Enquiries should be addressed directly to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (e-mail: auwi@stuttgart.ihk.de, phone +49-711-2005-257).

Chamber of Industry and Commerce website:
www.stuttgart.ihk.de

3. Handwerk International

Handwerk International provides international contact and cooperation directories, enabling companies to pick out interesting potential contacts and approach them directly.

In addition, Handwerk International advises small trade businesses on market development options and measures. An initial consultation serves to clarify which foreign markets are of interest to the company and where potential customers may be located.

Handwerk International also organises trade show attendance, trips for businesspeople, and preparatory seminars for the different foreign markets.

Member companies also receive information on work and entry regulations, how to process foreign shipments including customs and tax issues, contractual aspects, EU information on public authority commissions, and details about financial assistance.

Please direct your enquiries to the managing director of Handwerk International, Jürgen Schäfer (e-mail: js@handwerk-international.de, phone +49-711-1657-280).

Handwerk International websites:
www.handwerk-international.de

Enterprise Europe website (German only):
www.enterprise-europe-bw.de

Contact us

• Your contact: Sandra Baumholz

Additional Information

Free search engine for suitable companies:
www.e-trade-center.com