German Chamber of Commerce for Spain

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Main office of the AHK Spain in Madrid

In 1994 the AHK Spain moved into its current headquarters in Avenida Pío XII, 26–28, in Madrid

The AHK Spain has conference rooms in Madrid and Barcelona

The German Chamber of Commerce for Spain (AHK Spain for short; Spanish Cámara de Comercio Alemana para España) is part of the global network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK), delegate offices and representative offices of German business.

The umbrella organization is the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) in Berlin, which is also the umbrella organization of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (IHK) in Germany. In addition to the offices in Madrid and Barcelona , the AHK Spain is represented by regional delegates in Aragon , the Basque Country and Valencia .

Functions

The task of the AHK Spain is to promote economic relations between Germany and Spain and to represent the interests of its member companies. As a self-governing bilateral institution, the AHK Spain supports the market interests of German companies in Spain as well as the interests of Spanish companies in Germany and is the point of contact for questions relating to German-Spanish economic relations.

Membership organization

With around 1,100 member companies and a presence in Spain since 1917, the AHK Spain has a network. As a member organization, the AHK Spain represents the interests of its member companies in government agencies. With its series of events, conferences, receptions and working groups, the AHK Spain also offers its members platforms for exchanging experiences and networking.

service provider

As a consulting company, the AHK Spain supports the market interests of German and Spanish companies with services that have been offered in Germany since 2008 under the service brand "DEinternational".

Market and sales advice

Market studies
Individual sales advice
Address research of importers
Appointment organization
Business partner mediation
Exhibition services
Organization of business travel programs on behalf of the BMWi
Business presence

Law & Taxation

Legal advice
Tax advice
Payroll and business accounting
Mediation
Debt collection
VAT refund
Commercial and registry information

HR services and business development

Recruitment
Placement of Spanish apprentices in German companies
Job Market
Investor search for Spanish start-ups
Start-up scouting for German investors

Vocational training

Advising companies that would like to offer dual training based on the German model
Initial professional training in the commercial and industrial-technical area
Seal of approval "training company"
Training of Trainers

Official representation of the German economy

The German chambers of commerce abroad organize numerous market research trips and business trips on behalf of the federal government and the federal states for German companies. The main clients are the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi), the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) and the economic ministries of the federal states.

In addition, the AHK Spain promotes the German dual training system in Spain by supporting the German vocational schools abroad in Barcelona and Madrid (FEDA), organizing events on the topic and advising companies in Spain on the implementation of the system.

As part of the German foreign trade promotion, the AHK receive a fee from the BMWi for fulfilling their tasks in the public interest.

history

In 1917, forty German companies founded the “German Economic Association in Barcelona” in Barcelona in order to “protect the interests of the German business community”.
In 1923 the name was changed from “German Economic Association in Barcelona” to “German Chamber of Commerce for Spain”.
In 1924, the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad for Spain participated as one of the few chambers founded before the First World War in the first meeting of the 24 German Chambers of Commerce Abroad in Berlin.

In 1933, the 34 Madrid-based members of the AHK Spain set up a branch in the Spanish capital.

In 1939 the AHK Spain resumes work that had come to a standstill as a result of the Spanish Civil War . The head office is relocated to Madrid. In the absence of a German diplomatic representation in Spain, the AHK Spain became the general contact point for Germans in the 1940s.

In 1952 the international economic blockade against Spain gradually dissolves and in 1952 the first post-war trade agreement between Spain and Germany is signed, based on and in the spirit of the German-Spanish Agreement of 1926.

In 1964 the AHK Spain had 1,500 members as a result of the expansion of trade relations between Germany and Spain.

In 1972 the German-Spanish settlement agreement came into force, and the AHK Spain played a key role in drafting it. The treaty represents an important step in the integration of the economies of Germany and Spain.

In 1973 the number of members fell for the first time from a peak of 1,700 member companies as a result of the economic crisis in Spain and the inflation of the peseta.

1986 With Spain joining the European Community and the subsequent economic growth of Spain, the tasks of the AHK Spain expand.

In 1994 the AHK Spain moved into its current headquarters in Madrid and in 1999 received ISO certification .

In 2006 the AHK Spain presented its new logo, which takes into account the increasing importance of renewable energies.

2011 Even four years after the start of the economic crisis in Spain, the AHK Spain can maintain its membership of 1,100.

2012 On September 6th, a “German-Spanish business meeting” takes place in Madrid, in which the Federal Chancellor and the Spanish Prime Minister also take part and in which the AHK Spain is significantly involved.

Publications

Bilingual magazine "Economía Hispano-Alemana"
Newsletter "Actualidad AHK - La Cámara Alemana informa"
"Law & Taxes" newsletter
Yearbook
Periodic surveys
Digital membership directory
Digital directory of German companies in Spain
Digital directory of German speaking lawyers in Spain
Digital food portal