Ningbo, Zhejiang province, has emerged as a prime destination for German investments in China, as revealed in a recent interview by Ningbo Daily with Volker Hagen, CFO and managing director of the Aachen-Ningbo Sister-City relationship Promotion Association.

Hagen, who has over two decades of experience promoting business ties between Germany and Ningbo, highlighted the city's strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and supportive government policies as key factors attracting German enterprises.

During the interview, Hagen expressed his optimism about growing German investment in China, noting that the first half of 2024 has already surpassed the total for all of 2023. He credited China's commitment to opening up its economy and improving its investment climate for this surge, adding that German firms are eager to benefit from China's high-quality development and tap into new markets.

When asked about Ningbo's specific advantages, Hagen emphasized the city's excellent port facilities and robust industrial ecosystem, which make it an ideal location for manufacturing and logistics operations. He also praised Ningbo's efficient government services and ease of doing business, which help reduce operational costs for foreign investors.

Hagen's own consulting firm has assisted over 50 German enterprises in setting up in China, with 12 of them choosing Ningbo as their base of operations. He believes that Ningbo's reputation as a hub for international businesses will continue to attract investment from Western Europe, particularly Germany, in the coming years.

Hagen's insights into the thriving German-Ningbo investment relationship offer a positive outlook for the future of international business collaborations in China. With Ningbo's unique advantages and China's commitment to openness and development, the city is poised to remain a key player in the global investment landscape.