Chamber of Commerce Abroad

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Foreign chambers of commerce , also bilateral chambers of commerce , represent the interests of companies in their home country in another country (e.g. German Chamber of Commerce for Spain ; Chamber of Commerce Switzerland-Lithuania ) and / or the promotion of mutual business relationships in general. In particular, they support settlement and investment projects as well as business initiation abroad and export through a range of services, which in individual cases can also include routine tasks such as bookkeeping and payroll accounting.

This article or paragraph presents the situation in Germany . Help us to describe the situation in other countries.

Logo of the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad

German Chambers of Commerce Abroad , or AHK for short, are represented in countries that are of particular interest to the German economy. The first AHK was founded in Brussels in 1894. Today they are available at 140 locations in 92 countries (as of 2020).

Organizational forms

AHKs come in three organizational forms, depending on the legal framework in the host countries:

  • Bilateral chambers of commerce abroad
    These are institutions with economic self-administration that are supported by member companies based in the respective host countries and in Germany.
  • Delegations and representative offices
    Delegations and representative offices of the German economy are usually transitional forms on the way to the establishment of further bilateral chambers of commerce abroad. You are in countries in which a bilateral chamber of commerce is not (yet) legally permitted or in which a foundation is currently being prepared.

Functions

AHKs combine up to three functions at their locations. You are:

  • Representation of the German economy
AHKs are committed to promoting foreign trade in the Federal Republic of Germany on behalf of the Federal Government.
  • Member organizations
The bilateral chambers of commerce abroad have a total of over 40,000 member companies. This also includes multiple memberships. In addition, chambers of industry and commerce , or IHKs for short, are represented among the members of all AHKs . There are also other business associations and institutions that have joined the AHKs as members. Information about this can be found in the membership registers of the individual AHKs.
  • Service provider for companies
AHKs support the market interests of German companies in the host country. Under the service brand “DEinternational”, they offer German and foreign companies on the one hand services that are comparable worldwide and, depending on the location, specific services.
Specifically, the AHK support German and foreign investors in:
  • First-hand market information
  • Partner and customer search
  • achieving higher visibility
  • Advice and services related to business abroad.

financing

The AHKs draw their income for the most part from the services offered under their service brand “DEinternational”. Further sources of income are the contributions of over 40,000 members worldwide. The AHKs also receive so-called grants from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) for performing external trade promotion tasks in the public interest .

partner

In Germany, the AHKs cooperate closely with the BMWi, with the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce , or IHKs for short (which are in many cases also members of AHKs), as well as with all professional associations, trade fair companies, national associations and all other institutions involved in foreign trade promotion engage. In the host countries, the AHKs cooperate closely with the German diplomatic missions (embassies, consulates general), with Germany Trade & Invest and with all relevant local actors in politics, administration and business.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ About us - The German Chambers of Commerce Abroad. In: www.ahk.de. Retrieved January 9, 2019 .