Our mission statement

The BDI is the umbrella organization of German industry and industry-related service providers. 39 industry associations, more than 100,000 companies with around eight million employees in Germany and 15 state representatives make us the voice of German industry.

Purpose

We work for a modern, sustainable and successful industry in Germany, Europe and the world.

Vision

A strong industry serves as the foundation of the German economy and thus crucial for the competitiveness of our country. After all, Germany is not only the land of poets and thinkers. Small and medium-sized enterprises and large-scale industry successfully research, develop and produce in our country in unique value-added networks and offer leading system solutions and products on the international markets worldwide.

Our prosperity depends to a large extent on the development of the global economy. Internationally competitive companies ensure that Germany as an industrialized country benefits from globalization. Open borders for people and trade and international agreements guarantee free and rules-based access to global markets. A strong domestic market in Europe is important to us. Consumers in particular benefit from this through favorable prices and a wider range of products.

The industry has the solutions to meet these challenges and the strength to scale them globally. Our companies act in a forward-looking, competent and progressive way and thus serve as the basis for employment, prosperity and social peace in Germany, in Europe and internationally.

Mission

As an interest group, we address the positions of a wide range of industrial sectors and industry-related service providers vis-à-vis NGOs, civil society and science. In this way, we support companies in global competition. We highlight the impact of economic policy on society, provide information and economic policy advice on all industry-relevant issues, and assist in opening up international markets by providing political support. We have an extensive network in Germany and Europe, in all important markets and in international organizations.

Business is Society

We are part of the democratic decision-making process and stand for an objective and fair discussion culture. The best solutions for our community can only be found through a competition of ideas. That is why we are an indispensable civic player - and an important force for sociopolitical reform. Industry and industry-related services are part of society and seek to help shape the necessary sociopolitical discussions.

Transparent Representation of Interests with Expertise

We have a unique combination of expertise, pooling the know-how of volunteer entrepreneurs, committed companies, member associations and state representatives as well as employees in Berlin, Brussels, Washington and Beijing. The BDI's positioning is based on the fundamental principles of the social market economy and the interests of its member associations and their member companies. This makes us the center of competence for economic policy in the Federal Republic. We measure our success by the implementation of our positions in political reality. Moreover, we maintain contact with heads of government and EU commissioners, with political parties, parliaments and ministries, with academia and with the diplomatic corps. Our credibility is based on non-partisan, fact-based and scientifically sound argumentation. Our communication to policymakers is transparent.