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Key Competitive Attractions

Bielefeld - East Westphalia`s leading business location

With almost 326,000 inhabitants and an area of 258 sqkm, Bielefeld is the largest city and main centre of Ostwestfalen-Lippe region of North Rhine-Westphalia. This region has one of the highest economic growth rates in Germany. More than 126,000 local employees and over 50,000 daily commuters in Bielefeld offer optimal conditions for successful businesses. A healthy mix of industries, a well-trained workforce and an excellent infrastructure are particularly attractive to medium sized enterprises.

Numerous long-established companies of world renown attest to the quality of the town as the predominant business location. Bielefeld’s industrial development has been based on linen. Textile and clothing manufacture, with mechanical engineering for these industries, has helped the town to economic prosperity. Companies from the food, luxury consumables, printing and clothing sectors, from the building and construction industry and mechanical engineering have settled here. The presence of firms such as Dr. Oetker, Seidensticker, Gundlach-Gruppe, Dürkopp, Windsor, Gildemeister, Schüco, Goldbeck, JAB Anstoetz and Alcina demonstrates Bielefeld's wide range of industrial activities.

Approximately 25% of employees work in manufacturing, 19% in trade, and more than 50% in service industries. In addition, the town is encouraging the development of the health sector. About 15,000 employees work in this field. With the von Bodelschwingh Institution at Bethel and the Johanneswerk, Bielefeld houses the largest community care facilities in Europe.

Assistance and Support For New Business Investors

WEGE mbH - the local economic development agency - is a customer oriented service provider and the central contact for all businesses in Bielefeld. As location manager and pilot
through administrative processes, we are active in offi ce space and trade area development and marketing, planning consent  management, real estate services, company incorporation and promotion consultancy, and location marketing.

WEGE mbH manages and accompanies business sector initiatives and co-operations in all leading Bielefeld industries. Active enterprise
networks in mechanical engineering, the health services and in IT, with their multi-faceted co-operation potentials, are a genuine location advantage.

As a powerful partner in a city-wide network we are linked to all major institutions and players in Bielefeld and know the right contacts.
We create a buzz among investors, and our continuing business support system attracts and retains investment among established
and new enterprises to our location, Bielefeld.

WEGE mbH Bielefeld  offers support for businesses setting up in the area. This includes following services for investors:

• Help with the acquisition or sale of commercial space
• Assistance with planning and development of building plots or the redevelopment of brownfield sites
• Promotion and moderation of business initiatives and company co-operation in main branches

Do not hesitate to contact us: info@wege-bielefeld.de, www.wege-bielefeld.de

Existing Business Base

A healthy variety of business sectors, a well-qualifi ed workforce, and an excellent infrastructure are particularly attractive to medium
sized enterprises. Historically a centre for linen weaving, Bielefeld today has world renowned companies from the food and luxury consumables, printing and clothing sectors, and from construction and mechanical engineering industries. Bielefeld’s service industries are dominated by the businessoriented sector and in particular its IT providers, and a people-centred healthcare system.

Main sectors:

• mechanical engineering
• healthcare
• IT
• food processing
• services
• biotechnology
• alternative energies

Employment breakdown:

• 24% in manufacturing
• more than 75% in service industries

Lots of great companies have already made a home in this prosperous town, including Dr. Oetker, Seidensticker, Gundlach-Gruppe, Durkopp, Windsor, Gildemeister, Schuco, Goldbeck, JAB Anstoetz and Alcina.