Partnering in Business with Germany
Partnership programme
for business cooperation
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Global support for small and medium-sized enterprises
Partnering in Business with Germany is a global programme of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and designed to promote foreign trade and investment. It seeks to help SMEs from developing and emerging countries forge successful business ties with German SMEs. Each year, around 1,000 managers from around the world are prepared to enter the German market and brought into contact with German companies that themselves are interested in entering new markets abroad. The programme leads to the establishment of long-term business partnerships and a global network of internationally active SMEs.
Partnering in Business with Germany cuts across all sectors. However, there is a growing focus on decarbonisation and climate action.
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17 partner countries – 17 markets. Learn more about our 17 partner countries.
1.400
German companies participate in the programme every year. Two thirds of these German companies are SMEs.
17.000
selected managers from abroad have been prepared for business with Germany under the programme since 1998. They form a global network of internationally active SMEs.
The special thing about the Programme is that the expertise of German SMEs gets taken straight across to developing and emerging markets, and that this leads to useful business contacts – to the advantage of both sides, because both sides learn from it. It’s a prime example of cooperation.
Forward-looking promotion of foreign trade and investment for a global network of competitive SMEs ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow.
25 years of support for cross-border business cooperation
Partnering in Business with Germany is the link between Germany and companies from 17 countries. Discover partner countries.
Economic relations between Germany and Vietnam continue to grow, defying a global trend
Six years after the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) entered into force, economic ties between Germany and Vietnam continue to expand despite Germany’s economic stagnation and a challenging global environment. Partnering in Business with Germany’s network meeting held on 12 March 2026 in HoChiMinh City offered an opportunity to take stock of the progress made thus far and to look ahead.
New partner countries boost diversification and resilience in Germany’s trade and investment
The Partnering in Business with Germany programme has provided a strategic impetus in recent months: Türkiye, Brazil, Colombia, Kenya and Indonesia have been added as five new partner countries. The aim is to facilitate access for German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to high-growth markets and to further advance the international diversification of trade and supply relationships. Malaysia is expected to complement the partner network in due course.
Successful cooperation: joint venture for green energy
A forward-looking project for carbon-free power generation in Egypt has been launched with the newly established joint venture between the German technology company Frenell and its Egyptian partner Solar Energy Solutions (SES). Based on the innovative solar technology of Frenell, the project, which was established in the context of the Partnering in Business with Germany programme, will not only lastingly shape the local energy supply, but also strengthen German-Egyptian economic cooperation.
German-Mexican steering committee pleased with the way Partnering in Business with Germany is developing
The German-Mexican steering committee of the Partnering in Business with Germany programme convened in Mexico City on 25 February 2026. The focus of the meeting was on further developing the priorities and strengthening bilateral economic relations.
Shaping the future: annual meeting of the Business Development Centres in Bonn
Making Partnering in Business with Germany even more effective and attractive for German companies was at the heart of the annual meeting of the Business Development Centres (BDC), held in Bonn on 4 and 5 February 2026. The aim was to strategically develop the programme as a tool for promoting foreign trade and to prepare it for the future, with a clear focus on delivering value for German businesses.
