Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hochrhein-Bodensee
The Hochrhein-Bodensee Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee) is a public corporation founded in 1828 as the Konstanz Chamber of Commerce with its headquarters in Konstanz and its main office in Schopfheim . Its task is to look after the overall interests of the around 36,000 associated tradespeople and companies in the districts of Konstanz , Waldshut and Lörrach .
The current president of the IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee is Thomas Conrady, the managing director is Claudius Marx .
history
The history of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce begins on April 10th, 1828, when the Chamber of Commerce was founded in Konstanz and announced this to the city's "Commendable Magistrate" in a document, the wording of which reflects the Biedermeier spirit of that time:
- “Concerning the constitution of the Chamber of Commerce, the election of the board members and their premises. The local merchants and traders, following the instructions of the highly commendable district directorate on March 18, at the meeting held yesterday, elected the following three heads by majority vote:
- Constantin Beutter, City Councilors Delisle and Voldenauer, as well as Secretary Franz Lott.
- By bringing this to the most obedient knowledge, we at the same time ask the laudable magistrate to give us the room on the second floor of the town hall towards sunrise for our management. "
The fact that the gentlemen were among the “sleepy ones” of their time can be seen from the fact that they wanted a room “around sunrise”.
The beginnings were not entirely free from quarrels. The adopted statutes could be regarded as groundbreaking for this time. In addition to organizational issues, the focus was on the implementation and monitoring of apprenticeship training and financial support for those in need. The “honorable merchant”, who was supposed to have his advocate in the Chamber, found particular emphasis. Nonetheless, the statutes were endlessly commented on, torn to pieces and watered down. In 1829 the documents went to Karlsruhe. Three years later they received the succinct reply that they should submit the founding notice to the ministry again. After a second attempt, which did not really work, a new board was elected for the third time on December 7, 1838. In the following year the chamber finally started its actual work - despite the lack of statutes.
In 1839 she campaigned for the financing of the first iron steamboat on Lake Constance. To protect trade, she tried to get the state government to pass suitable "laws for trade and traffic". Immediately at the headquarters, the Constance City Council was asked in a letter dated December 3, 1839 to always consult the Chamber before granting concessions in order to achieve better order “in mercantilist matters”. The expected requirements that an applicant had to meet were set high and were handled extremely strictly. A completed apprenticeship, practical experience and the keeping of trading books had to be proven. Anyone who did not meet these requirements had to undergo an expert examination. The Chamber of Commerce first conducted such retail tests in 1841.
Customs has been an important field of action for the Chamber of Commerce from the start. As early as 1840, a decree of the main customs office was announced to the members, according to which all domestic goods intended for export had to be provided with a written declaration of content and weight. A detailed report on the customs area was published in 1842. In it the chamber recommended that the port of Kreuzlingen and the suburbs should remain duty-free, as the expansion of the port would result in an intensification of cross-border traffic.
In 1893 she got involved in the continuation of the Höllentalbahn. She also commented on the routing of the Bodenseegürtelbahn, which was put into operation in 1901.
The establishment of the regional chamber of commerce can be dated to November 18, 1895. Their sphere of activity initially extended to the larger towns in the districts of Engen, Konstanz, Meßkirch, Pfullendorf, Stockach and Überlingen.
At the beginning of 1896, in line with the increased tasks, she moved into new offices at Hussenstrasse 17. The previous various moves of the chamber can only be partially reconstructed. It is documented that the chamber resided in the old town hall on the fish market until 1845. For the following decades, however, there is no evidence of the exact location in Constance. An office at 39 Hussenstrasse is not mentioned until 1890. Here the members could get information and use the library between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. This office was given up in July 1892 because the newly elected secretary, the bookseller Ernst Ackermann, ran an open shop at Kanzleistraße 6, where the Chamber of Commerce's business was now also handled. President Kommerzienrat Stromeyer provided a suitable room for meetings.
The year 1896 brought an economic boom throughout Germany. The country developed into an industrial state, international trade expanded, domestic consumption increased and prosperity increased. The chamber's activities expanded during these times, so that staff had to be hired. This quickly led to the business premises at Hussenstrasse 17 becoming too small. On August 15, 1899, the office was moved to Talgartenstrasse 3. There was also a telephone connection there for the first time. But after almost three years, it was time to move back to Hussenstrasse, this time house number 19. Who is it that is surprising that the responsible entrepreneurs thought about establishing their own chamber?
In 1903 the chamber started construction of its building at Konstanzer Schützenstraße 8a. A lot of sandstone from the broken medieval city wall was used. In 1905 the house was inaugurated with a festive ceremony. The facility cost a thousand marks at that time, the total construction costs amounted to 42,000 marks. The staff consisted of a secretary and two typists. The constant tasks of this time included advising companies on customs and trade law, commercial law issues, sales, tariff issues, transport connections, trade fairs, etc. As early as 1893, the issuing and certification of certificates of origin was part of it. Finally, the chamber was authorized to appoint experts and to mediate agencies or sources of supply abroad.
The First World War brought domestic companies a noticeable shortage of raw materials. To remedy this, the chamber set up a loan office for the Constance district. Immediately after the World War in 1919, she campaigned for the construction of an airport in Constance. She also had to submit numerous statements on a flood of laws that were passed in these eventful years. The introduction of the eight-hour working day, which threatened the existence of the retail trade, which was used to longer service provision, led to lively discussion.
With the onset of inflation, the Chamber began a difficult time. She applied to produce and issue emergency money. The Reich Ministry of Finance agreed to this request and so she and the other four Baden chambers were given the privilege of jointly issuing emergency money from mid-November 1923. The small bills that were put into circulation had a total value of 5 million gold marks.
In 1924 the Chamber of Commerce supported the project of a ferry connection between Konstanz and Meersburg, which was then set up four years later. In the twenties she also advocated the establishment of a flight connection from St. Gallen via Konstanz to Basel and the electrification of the Black Forest Railway. The Chamber's involvement in the fight against the disfigurement of the landscape and townscape through excessive advertising posters may seem strange today.
The dark times of National Socialism also left their mark on the Chamber of Commerce. The new Chamber of Commerce Act of July 1, 1933 centralized power in the Baden Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Karlsruhe. There were branch offices in Mannheim, Freiburg, Pforzheim, Schopfheim and Konstanz. The presidents were installed by the regime and the chambers were organized according to the leader principle . Even after the Baden Chamber of Commerce and Industry was dissolved in 1935, the chamber in Constance was not rebuilt. The chamber's newly established "Defense Department", which was on standby itself at night, served the undercover war preparations. After the outbreak of war, the chamber was then used for raw material management and the allocation of raw materials to the companies. She was also used in the draft campaign for the last war contingent, the “Volkssturm”. In 1942, the Baden chambers were incorporated into the Upper Rhine Gauwirtschaftskammer .
After the war, the Konstanz company and the Villingen office devoted themselves to building up the region. The upswing became apparent soon after the currency reform: the price release ended the central administration economy and the border with Switzerland slowly reopened.
In the early 1970s, the Konstanz Chamber of Commerce expanded its building in Schützenstrasse to include an extension that provided additional office space. At the same time, as part of the Baden-Württemberg regional reform of 1973, the previously independent Chamber of Constance merged with the Hochrhein Chamber of Commerce. Since then, your district has included the districts of Konstanz, Waldshut and Lörrach. Today, with its headquarters in Constance and the main office in Schopfheim, it looks after around 36,000 member companies from industry, trade and services. One of the most important tasks is the cross-border cooperation with the neighboring countries Switzerland, France, Liechtenstein and Austria.
President of the Konstanz Chamber of Commerce (from 1973 IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee)
- 1828–1836 Constantin Beutter
- 1836–1838 GD Ludwig
- 1838-1857 DH Egloff
- 1857-1863 J. Honegger
- 1863–1874 FA Schroff
- 1874–1876 director of Langenbach
- 1876–1890 Albert Gradmann
- 1890–1920 Kommerzienrat Ludwig Stromeyer
- 1920–1933 Fritz Gradmann
- 1933–1934 Fritz Gruner
- 1935–1939 Joseph Jöhle
- 1940–1945 Wilhelm Mannebach
- 1946–1949 Franz Rudolf
- 1949–1970 Hans-Constantin Paulssen
- 1970–1975 Otto Grossmann
- 1975–1981 Fritz Reichle
- 1981–1989 Hans Gorsler
- 1989-2001 Dietrich.H. Boesken
- 2001–2014 Kurt Grieshaber
- since 2014 Thomas Conrady
Business figures
The IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee has operating income of 10.3 million euros (2012), which are mainly generated through membership fees, but also through fees and charges for services. The basic contribution is between 60 euros and 16,000 euros per company (the last-mentioned basic contribution is, however, offset against an allocation with the amount exceeding 200 euros). Companies that are not registered in the commercial register and generate less than 5,200 euros in profit per year are exempt from paying the fee. In addition, a surcharge of 0.20% of the trade income is currently levied for the member companies.
Number of managing directors 1 (chief executive officer) Number of employees 80, thereof 36 part-time, contribution total of 6.4 million euros (2012)
Assessment rate 0.20% (since 2012) Balance sheet total EUR 30.4 million (2012)
construction
Associated Around 36,000 General Assembly 55 members (plus 6 honorary members) Presidium 1 President + 6 Vice-Presidents
General Assembly
The main tasks of the plenary assembly include the definition of the economic plan and the economic policy guidelines of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the discussion and formation of opinions in all matters relating to the economy of the region, the formation of committees and local economic bodies as well as the decision on changes to the Chamber of Commerce statutes.
The plenary assembly is the highest body of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce - through the democratically legitimized vote of the plenary assembly, the positions and demands at the municipal, regional as well as state and federal level gain particular weight. The committee represents a cross-section of all industries and branches of business in the district of the IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee. It elects the Presidium and the President from among its own ranks.
In autumn 2014, the general assembly with 55 members was elected from around 36,000 company representatives who were entitled to vote at the time. The General Assembly and the Presidium have six honorary members.
Bureau
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce is represented jointly by President Thomas Conrady and General Manager Claudius Marx. The Presidium consists of the President and the six Vice-Presidents Andreas Mayr, Michael Schwabe, Walter Finthammer, Dietmar Kühne, Stephan Karl Schultze and Heinz Rombach. Honorary President is Dietrich H. Boesken and Kurt Grieshaber. Honorary members of the Presidium and the General Assembly are Ingrid Hempel, Christof Heiss, Henry Rauter and Horst Seipp.
Chief Executive
The General Assembly appointed Claudius Marx as General Manager with effect from March 1, 2006.
Committees
Eight committees are currently active under the umbrella of the IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee. The committees advise and support the general assembly of the Chamber of Commerce in technical matters. Its members are appointed by the general assembly. These are the following committees:
- Foreign trade
- Vocational training
- Finance and taxes
- energy and Environment
- trade
- Industry
- tourism
- traffic
Business areas
The IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee divides its tasks into six business areas: "Education and training", "Business start-ups and business support", "International", "Location policy", "Innovation and environment" and "Law and taxes".
Initial and continuing education
The main tasks of the training and further education division are to secure the next generation of specialists and managers. This begins with the aptitude test for training companies and trainers and extends to the implementation of the examinations in training and further education. Successful training is to be ensured through measures for career orientation, the promotion of the training ability of school leavers and the strengthening of trainer competencies through further training offers.
The focus of the area of further training is advising companies and those interested in further training as well as the implementation of further training offers. In addition to day seminars and certificate courses, these are primarily preparatory courses for the public law degrees of the specialist and industrial foreman level. The online platform IHKadhoc supports the learners with tutorials.
Business start-ups and business support
The division provides support with questions about setting up a business and with the handover. Companies that want to expand or that are in difficulties are informed about financing and funding opportunities. In addition, the member companies are accompanied by consultations, events and leaflets.
International
By providing market information, international partnerships and information on foreign trade and customs law, the International division of the IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee makes it easier for companies to enter foreign markets and thus supports them in opening up new markets. The issuing of certificates of origin, ATA carnets and other certificates for international business transactions are further tasks. Within the framework of the German priority chamber system for countries, the IHK is the knowledge carrier for Switzerland. The basis for the exchange on growth regions and current issues of international importance is laid in the Foreign Trade Committee. This consists of representative companies with a high degree of internationalization and is managed by Wolfgang Lay, partner Dr.-Ing. Paul Christiani GmbH & Co. KG.
Location policy
The business area location policy is particularly concerned with securing the location as well as representing the interests of companies in the Upper Rhine-Lake Constance region and representing their interests in relation to politics, administration and the public. Important topics such as transport infrastructure, securing skilled workers, but also company health management are dealt with here. Joint initiatives with other regional actors from business and politics - also from Switzerland, France, Liechtenstein and Austria - are intended to promote the merging of the entire economic region around the Upper Rhine and Lake Constance. The focus is on companies from industry, logistics and the healthcare sector.
Innovation and the environment
In the context of events, company visits or initial consultations, the department provides information on the subjects of property rights, CE marking, funding programs, energy efficiency and innovations in environmental law. In addition, the department advises companies on questions of practical environmental protection and actively promotes technology transfer between industry and science.
Law and taxes
The focus of the activities of the legal and tax division is on providing information on legal reforms and providing information to companies in all areas of relevance to the company, from labor and tax law to contract law. In addition to information events, leaflets and newsletters, the IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee maintains personal contact with companies in order to pass on suggestions to the legislative organizations, to influence legislative processes and to represent economic interests.
