Wiesbaden is a city with good future prospects. The location’s ideal mix of hard and soft factors enriches the attractiveness of the Hessian state capital. Wiesbaden enjoys a top reputation nationwide as well as internationally, which is confirmed again and again by the most current rankings. The city continues to appear at the top of the list among large German cities, particularly in economic power and infrastructure as well as purchasing power, founding of start-ups and quality of life. The excellent child care offerings and the qualification of our employees also have outstanding rankings in comparison in a national comparison.
We understand ourselves to be a part of the metropolitan Rhine-Main region in every respect and are embedded in a network of optimal transportation connections in one of the most efficient urban areas in the world, with around 5.5 million inhabitants and around 2.8 million gainfully employed workers earning a gross domestic product of 69,000 euros per capita.
Living and working
Life is good in Wiesbaden – as a family or single, as a busy manager or a young graduate. Whoever comes here once usually stays for quite a while. Not surprisingly, the city counts as one of the most favoured residential areas in Germany. Here, the traditional meets the modern. In the splendid cityscape of the former spa town, which has long since left its old image behind and developed into a modern service metropolis, there are wonderful opportunities for life and work.
The special appeal of the city is certainly also a factor contributing to the increasing growth in number of inhabitants for the future. In contrast to many shrinking cities, Wiesbaden will have an increase in residents up to 2020. And not only the Wiesbadeners enjoy the city; tourists and business travelers also gladly come to Wiesbaden – over one million overnighters per year in the hotels and guest houses of the state capital are impressive evidence of this.
The right mix brings success
The wide palette of business fields in large industries sticks out in Wiesbaden as an economic centre: financial service providers, consulting firms, communications and IT companies take on a leading role. Thanks to the high purchasing power and excellent transportation connections, the retail and logistics branches are also prominently represented. In addition, the Hessian state capital is well positioned in the industrial field.
Wiesbaden companies in the high-tech industry are at the forefront of global competition when it comes to image processing, sensor technology and modern materials.
Networks of the future
In view of increasing work division and specialization, the key to success lies in the formation of networks and regional clusters. This was early recognized in the city and the construction of networks, such as for example the Consulting Cluster or Logistics RheinMain, was jointly initiated and supported. We want to continue to actively shape the location together with companies. This means, among other things, bringing network thinking into all important industries. In the future, we would also like to include active networking in the creative fields and the health care industry.
A good economic environment certainly does not only depend on location factors alone, such as industrial real estate offerings or transportation infrastructure. In Wiesbaden, we also see the people behind the records of success. We are proud of our good education landscape, outstanding health care provisions, a wide variety of leisure activities, our lively city centre and an open social climate. In summary: the best starting conditions for companies and their employees!
Active economic development for the future
It is very important, however, not to rest on these laurels, but rather to bring the city forward together with the companies. This means not only utilizing the potentials of growth industries in the services sector, but also bringing the production industry and numerous skilled trade occupations into a successful future.
Our goal – now more than ever – is to create new workplaces, keep existing ones and provide a good start-up climate. Our municipal economic policies provide basic conditions that enable investment and support the economy.
The economic friendliness of municipalities is an important framework condition for success, especially for medium-sized businesses, and thus also for the prosperity of a city. Administrative offerings tailored to the needs of companies can tip the scales, for example, in the company’s selection of a location. Short, clear decision paths as well as personal consulting and administrative services form a decisive advantage in the successful realization of projects.
As an business-friendly municipality, we engage in the promotion of economic development directed towards comprehensive portfolio servicing and supporting newly founded companies on their path of development. This includes an active approach to the companies on location, because we want to know where problems exist. In addition, the state capital of Wiesbaden also offers tailor-made real estate at affordable prices – ranging from offices in the “Startblock”, our start-up foundation centre, to flexible spaces in the various industrial areas of the city.
With its unique combination of quality of life and an inspired work environment in a modern service metropolis, which still preserves the charm of the Belle Époque and has integrated it into modern working life, as well as the ideal local conditions for companies, Wiesbaden will continue to be one of the top economic centres in Germany in the future.
The author was born in Wiesbaden in 1953 and is a certified merchant in wholesale and foreign trade. Detlev Bendel is head of the department for commerce and industry, personnel and hospitals of the state capital of Wiesbaden.
