Rostock mayor celebrates Baltic coast location

Q: What are Rostock’s unique selling point for FDI?

A: Rostock stands for Hanseatic tradition, seaports and hi-tech. This historic 800-year-old city is in a process of transformation and is open to new ideas. With more than 500,000 inhabitants in the surrounding region, Rostock is not only the largest city, but also the economic and cultural centre of the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The Rostock region is the [gateway] at the intersection of the Berlin-Copenhagen and Hamburg-Stettin axes. The oldest university in northern Europe, as well as numerous highly innovative companies in fields such as life sciences and maritime technologies, have contributed to Rostock’s development into one of the most dynamic locations in the Baltic Sea region. This location holds many advantages and represents an interesting alternative for investors.

Q: What accountrs for Rostock’s status as an ever-growing logistic hub?

A: The Rostock region, with its seaport, motorway junction and airport, provides excellent logistical conditions and opens up new possibilities for co-operation with partners in northern and eastern European countries. Rostock port is the only deep-sea port on Germany’s Baltic coast with daily ferry services to Scandinavia, the Baltic and Russia as well as modern superstructure and infrastructure. A unique, complete orbital motorway in northern Germany connects the city and port to the European highway network. Operating 24 hours a day, Rostock-Laage airport is the perfect place for airlines and carriers. As Germany’s first privately financed transport project, the Warnow Tunnel connects districts east and west of the river Warnow.

Additional features such as the pristine nature and scenic landscape enrich one’s experience in this region. Rostock is faster. In Hanseatic times as well as today, this is the decisive argument in choosing a business location.

The city’s seaport means that it is a major logistics hub in the Baltic region and offers you an enormous potential for growth and optimal conditions, particularly as a maritime location, with traditional strengths in the port/cargo and shipbuilding industries. Today, these strengths also include the offshore wind energy industry. Rostock also has competencies in the fields of future technologies and industrial processing. Some of the key sectors of local business include the life sciences and food processing industries as well as applied and basic research.

Moreover, the city’s proximity to Hamburg makes it an important secondary location for companies operating in the aerospace industry. Rostock’s significance as a business location is underlined by its success in attracting companies such as Liebherr, MV Werften, Sixt, Europ Assistance Services and IKEA. Traditionally, Rostock’s strengths have been in tourism and the service sector. This comes as no surprise, when some of the world’s most attractive sailing waters lie just off the coast and the cruise port is one of the gateways to the city. Vsitors can enjoy wellness, recreation and watersport activities at some of the famous Baltic coast resorts around Rostock.

Q: What assistance does Rostock provide to new investors?

A: Rostock Business and Technology Development provides you with everything you need. We support you in a ‘one-stop-shop’, assisting you in the settlement of your business and beyond. We can help you in recruiting employees, we will cut through red tape for you and assist in obtaining the necessary permits as well as in finding the perfect location. Our excellent links to public agencies as well as to banks will pave the way for your ideas. We can also provide contacts to research institutions, distributors and other partners. We will link your company to our national and international networks.