Foreword We are here to help you

14|15 Annual Report Foreword We are here to help you Georg Fichtner President Andreas Richter Chief Executive Officer With this Annual Report we ...
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14|15 Annual Report

Foreword We are here to help you

Georg Fichtner President

Andreas Richter Chief Executive Officer

With this Annual Report we want to inform our member companies, the public and politicians of the aims and projects which we are pursuing in the current year of 2015 and what we have accomplished and achieved over the last twelve months. At the same time we present the diversity of the services we offer. This report is intended to highlight the fact that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Stuttgart Region works not only efficiently, but also in line with the needs of its member companies. The published financial data provides transparency with respect to the funds that have been used.

our examination committees. We would like to thank them all for their commitment.

In order to operate successfully, the CCI requires dedicated entrepreneurs who contribute their expertise and interests to the committees of the CCI free of charge. Over 600 individuals participate in the Executive Committee, Plenary Assembly, District Assemblies and other committees. More than 5,000 volunteer experts from companies, vocational schools and other facilities contribute their experience and knowledge to

Another important factor in our success is our professional and customer-oriented personnel, who provide information, advice, support and – on the basis of their dialogue with businesses and founders – develop new offers. They also implement legal tasks, as well as the specified targets and work programme of the Plenary Assembly and District Assemblies. The quality of their work is regularly monitored externally and our management system – the aim of which is efficiency and continuous improvement – further developed. Independent Certified Public Accountants draw up our annual financial statements and check down to the last detail that all specifications are being complied with. We are here to help you. Further details of this can be found in this report.

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Indices

CCI for the Stuttgart Region | Main Budget 2015 Target in euros 1

Actual in 2014 in euros 1

Actual in 2013 in euros 1

Actual in 2012 in euros 1

38,410,000

35,069,444

34,441,934

31,837,481

6,515,600

6,211,650

5,291,722

4,196,512

868,400

880,618

857,701

837,245

3,508,600

5,099,918

2,541,268

2,733,388

49,302,600

47,261,631

43,132,626

39,604,626

5,197,500

4,851,389

4,669,831

4,830,825

25,074,000

24,166,587

20,119,791

20,441,444

1,959,000

1,334,255

1,018,262

968,821

10,663,200

9,541,581

8,730,598

8,480,380

Operating expenses

42,893,700

39,893,811

34,538,481

34,721,470

Net profit

-2,264,100

626,427

3,674,545

598,777

1,231,210

1,010,784

730,679

594,957

Income from contributions Income from public service activities (charges) Sales revenues (fees) Other operating income Operating income Material expenditure Personnel expenses Depreciation Other operating expenses

Investments (excluding financial assets) 1 excluding construction project

Table of Contents

4 12 20 24 28 30 33 38

Location Policy Vocational and Further Training International Innovation and Environment Legal and Taxes Business Start-ups and Enterprise Support Branches of Industry CCI as a Meeting Point

40 50 56 59 61 62 64 65

Financial Data Members, Contribution CCI Work in Figures Bodies How the CCI works How the CCI is organised Addresses Masthead

Location Policy Companies operating by line of sight CCI indicators

Current situation

Expected business developments Beginning of 2015

Index points

poor

good

better

worse .

.

.

.

. .

satisfactory

Economic Policy

unchanged

Values in per cent

Eurozone. The situation in Greece will continue to be dominated by instability for a long time to come.

Companies in the region well positioned The position of companies in the Stuttgart Region remains good: their economic situation is robust at the beginning of 2015, with their expectations for the coming months characterised by restrained confidence. In a survey of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region at the beginning of the year, forty-eight per cent of companies reported a positive business situation, with only seven per cent of them in a difficult position. Of all industries, it is the service sector and manufacturing industry which are in the best position. The trade sector reports that its business situation is satisfactory. A positive influence on the business situation comes from the improved export opportunities as a result of the weakness of the euro, the low prices for crude oil and the associated higher purchasing power of consumers and continuing high levels of employment. Approximately one third of companies are looking optimistically into the future, with the majority expecting a stable economic situation.

Variation in demand from abroad – export-oriented businesses see risks Strong demand is reported from the export industry, above all in the USA and China, in contrast to which the other markets are sending out only weak impulses. Demand from Russia continues to fall and the retraction of the EU sanctions against Russia cannot be expected in the near future. The Eurozone has still not overcome its difficulties, with France and Italy stagnating in particular. The massive purchase of government bonds by the European Central Bank also threatens to take the pressure to reform off the countries within the

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The political uncertainties are making it more difficult for companies to plan. Almost three out of ten companies see the demand from abroad as a risk to their business developments, while this level is as high as 45 per cent in export-oriented industry. Nevertheless, exporters remain optimistic: almost half of companies are expecting foreign demand to increase.

Good situation in the employment market – shortage of skilled workers becoming acute The recruitment plans of companies remain more or less unchanged in 2015. According to a CCI survey, 23 per cent of businesses are planning to increase the size of their workforce, while only 13 per cent want to reduce their workforce, with the majority not planning to make any changes. It remains to be seen whether the companies can also implement their employment plans given the shortage of skilled workers (see page 9 ff.). After domestic demand and the labour costs, the shortage of skilled employees is in third place in the list of the greatest business risks. In 2014 the number of employees who were liable for social insurance contributions increased in the Stuttgart Region by 2.4 per cent to around 1.15 million. Apart from seasonal fluctuations, employment since 2009 has therefore steadily increased by almost 100,000 people or 9.4 per cent. The unemployment rate in the region fell in 2014 from 4.8 to 4.6 per cent. The annual average showed that just under 60,000 people were unemployed, 2.2 per cent less than in 2013.

Photo: www.fineimages.de

The CCI is calling for fewer bureaucratic barriers for foreign companies and workers, as well as a better culture of welcome. The local economy is dependent on immigration from abroad.

More bureaucracy due to the minimum wage

What the CCI does

Three out of four companies in the Stuttgart Region – and primarily medium-sized businesses are affected by the acrossthe-board introduction of the minimum wage. Almost 60 per cent complain of the additional expense associated with the documentation of working hours. This was determined by the CCI in a survey in January 2015, in which over 500 companies from all sectors and of all sizes in the Stuttgart Region participated. For many companies the minimum wage does not cause any higher wage costs directly, as they already pay the collectively agreed salaries or more than the minimum wage voluntarily. However, additional personnel expenditure arises due to the mandatory bureaucracy.

Services in the field of economic policy:

According to a survey, many businesses want to respond to the increased expenses with rationalisation and price increases, by restricting their service hours or even cutting jobs. Sectors which are particularly affected are catering establishments and the hotel business, the transport industry, the retail trade, the construction industry and the security industry. One problem is the time and effort required to ensure compliance with the regulations, especially in the case of mini-jobs, as well as legal uncertainties, for example in the calculation of Christmas bonuses or payments in kind.

• Economic Policy Working Group for economic experts from companies

23,000 foreign businesses strengthening the region – culture of welcome needs to be improved

• Preparation and provision of statistical economic data

The globalization of Stuttgart Region as a business location continues to progress. A CCI analysis shows that in the conurbation of Stuttgart, a total of around 23,000 companies from almost 140 countries are commercially active. The CCI welcomes the fact that the region is internationally orientated.

• Promotion of the Stuttgart Region as a location for manufacturing industry, trade, services, media and trade fairs • Commitment to the expansion of the research infrastructure and strengthening of the technological core competencies in the region • Site analyses and reports for the Stuttgart Region and the state of Baden-Württemberg, as well official opinions and proposals for the further development of municipalities and the region itself • Economic surveys and reports about the economic situation and development in the region, annual discussion of the economy with scientists and economic experts • Reports about employment trends and developments on the labour market

• Proposals for reducing subsidies and bureaucracy • Official opinions on plans for new laws and ordinances • Official opinions as an agency representing public interests for trade and industry with respect to land use, building development and regional plans • Involvement in the identification of new industrial real estate, provision of advice to companies on their site selection • CCI rental overviews for office, retail, production and storage areas

Overall, foreign companies provide around 150,000 jobs in the region and prepare around 1,700 apprentices for their professional life. The CCI is calling upon politicians to further improve location marketing and the culture of welcome and break down existing bureaucratic barriers to immigration CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

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Photo: Kuhnle

Attractive commercial areas such as here in Pleidelsheim are an important locational factor for companies. If the development plans are drawn up, the CCI represents the interests of industry in the consultation process. It provides an overview of current plans at www.stuttgart.ihk.de.

and job placement. Most of the 2,200 foreign investors in the Stuttgart Region come from Switzerland, followed by the United States, Austria, France, United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, China, Spain and Luxembourg. Forty per cent of foreign investors operate in the field of scientific, technical and organisational services. One sixth are active in the wholesale sector and just as many in manufacturing. The foreign companies are often attracted by the strong export businesses of the region, which do business in precisely those countries. In addition to foreign investors, the immigrant foreigners also play an important role in the Stuttgart Region as a business location. Of around 421,500 citizens living here with a foreign passport, around 20,700 run a small business. The largest group – with one-fifth of such businesses – are the Turks, followed by Italians, Greeks, Romanians and Croats. Business start-ups by migrants constitute a potential which should be exploited further. For this purpose, the CCI would like to support foreign entrepreneurs starting a new business even more, for example with information on German commercial and tax law, as well as training.

Analysis of the competitiveness of the region Together with the Stuttgart Regional Association, the Chamber of Crafts and the IG Metall trade union, the CCI will this year be taking a close look at the competitiveness of Stuttgart Region as a business location once again: this year‘s analysis is concerned mainly with investments and explores the question of whether the Stuttgart Region as a business location is still attracting sufficient capital for sustainable growth in the international competition with other regions.

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The structural report, which appears every two years, analyses the economic development of the region and examines structural changes and the regional labour market.

More transparency in land development planning At www.stuttgart.ihk.de, document no. 137143, the CCI now provides an overview of the current land development plans of the Stuttgart Region. This enables companies to quickly gain an overview of whether they are affected by plans and which contact persons are responsible. Within the context of consultation procedures, the CCI for the Stuttgart Region – as the “upholder of public concerns“ – represents the interests of industry in land use development planning.

District Chamber representing the interests of business in the structural development of Esslingen In the town of Esslingen, an intense conflict has broken out over the new land-use plan, which is to be resolved by means of a civil dialogue with external moderation. The ambitious aim is to consider by the middle of 2015 together with citizens‘ initiatives, the CCI, young entrepreneurs and many other stakeholders how the town should be designed and further developed in the future. The Esslingen-Nürtingen District Chamber of the CCI is representing the interests of industry in this. Its position, which aims to ensure development opportunities for companies, was adopted unanimously by the CCI District Assembly in its position paper on the local elections.

What the CCI does Services in the field of transport networks: • Commitment to improving the transport infrastructure, as well as the expansion and modernisation of roads, rail, inland waterways and air transport in line with requirements

• Commitment to private transport and local public passenger transport (bus and rail) in accordance with the respective system advantages • Dealing with questions of building planning law and examination of the impacts on transport

Photo: Thinkstock

• Support for commercial transport

In order to reduce congestion, more investments are required in the construction of federal roads. The CCI is campaigning for this.

Transport Networks For more investment in federal long-distance roads Every year at least 9.5 billion euros would need to be provided for motorways and federal long-distance roads. With this amount it would be possible to sustainably finance federal transport routes. This was the conclusion of an expert report commissioned by Baden-Württemberg‘s CCIs. Even with the measures adopted by the federal government to expand the truck toll and introduce the infrastructure levy, a funding gap of 50 billion euros would open up by 2030. The Transport Committee and the Plenary Assembly of the CCI fear that long-term under-financing will have a negative effect not only on mobility and accessibility, but also on the competitiveness and growth prospects of the German economy. In December 2014 the CCI Plenary Assembly therefore called for a toll for all motorway users. This would require, however, that the funds obtained from this charge would be used in full for the maintenance, repair and investments in the arterial routes. As a result, funding would be available for the construction of long-distance transport routes irrespective of the general national finances and an independent funding cycle created.

CCI campaigning for transport projects in the region In December 2014, a delegation from the district of Göppingen with the participation of the Honorary President of the Göppingen District Chamber of the CCI Günter Schwarz called upon Federal Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt to ensure the extension of the B 10 and B 466.

Much to the regret of the Ludwigsburg District Chamber, there are further delays in removing bottlenecks on the B 10 in the area of Enzweihingen. In a letter to the State Minister of Transport Winfried Hermann in the summer of 2014 the Chamber requested his support for the Enzweihingen northern bypass and listed the project delays since 2003 once more. The introduction of the 2014 planning approval process announced at the time has now been delayed again, since first of all an update of the now-obsolete investigations into the protection of species has to be carried out. This will require an entire growing season.

Stuttgart Airport remains an important starting point for business trips Stuttgart Airport remains the starting point for the great majority of business air travel from the region. However, the range of international flights on offer is rated as being significantly worse than previously. The survey which the CCI carried out at the end of 2014 among its member companies therefore confirms the trends from corresponding surveys in previous years. For international companies the connection to air transport is of great importance. For this reason, the CCI carries out surveys at regular intervals on user behaviour and the level of satisfaction with Stuttgart Airport. Due to the stricter regulations since 2013 for the handling of air freight, manufacturing companies and logistics service providers were also surveyed about their experience with the theme of “known consignor“.

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What the CCI does Services in the field of tax and financial policy: • Submission of opinions on the amendment to tax laws to the federal government, state and local authorities • Official opinions on financial policy plans of the federal government, state and local authorities

Photo: Archive

• Annual analysis of budget plans of selected cities, towns and communities • Proposal for financial judges

The locks on the River Neckar are too short for modern inland waterway vessels. The CCI has long been campaigning for an extension.

Fight for the extension of the Neckar locks goes on The CCI is campaigning for an expansion of the Neckar locks for 135 metre-long boats as far as Plochingen. Increasing numbers of such boats are used on modern inland waterways. After the federal government had rejected this expansion in the area of the Upper Neckar from Heilbronn to Plochingen, it displayed its willingness last year to optimise one lock chamber of each of the 17 sluices for boats of 110 metres in length. Up to now the locks can only be used by boats with the special length of not more than 105 metres. However, the economic benefits of this minimal extension are considered by the CCI to be small. A precedent is being created with the complete remediation of the Besigheim lock: it is so dilapidated that it practically has to be rebuilt from new. If it is not possible to provide a chamber of for 135 metre-long boats now, an extension to Stuttgart/Plochingen is also unlikely for the period after 2031. This year the CCI intends to campaign once more for the extension.

District Chamber‘s official opinion on the noise reduction plan of the town of Ludwigsburg The Ludwigsburg District Chamber rejects the planned 30 kilometres an hour speed limit at night on major roads and a ban on lorries on the B 27 as being disproportionate. It proposes instead the installation of low-noise asphalt and passive noise protection. This was set out in its official opinion on the town‘s noise reduction plan at the end of September 2014. 30 kilometres per hour on four-lane main roads represents a major obstacle to traffic flow. A ban on lorries on the B 27 between the Marbacher Straße junction and the southern border of the town closes the main north-south thoroughfare to lorries and the detour route for the A 81 motorway. The extensive relocation of traffic to neighbouring municipalities and less efficient roads with only minor noise reductions would be the consequence.

Tax and Financial Policy Intermodal transport terminal in Eutingen progressing Together with its Böblingen District Chamber and other CCIs along the Stuttgart-Singen railway line (Gäubahn), the CCI for the Stuttgart Region has helped to initiate a transshipment terminal for intermodal transport in Eutingen in the “Gäu“ Region. Since October 2014 an investor has been confirmed for the creation of the necessary infrastructure. This has significantly increased the chances of the project being implemented. The location of Eutingen would in particular give companies in the district of Böblingen the opportunity to transfer containers to the railway network without passing through the gridlocked core area of the region.

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Call for the safeguarding of business succession in the reform of inheritance tax In Baden-Württemberg alone there are 19,000 family businesses which will be due for transfer to the next generation in the coming four years, representing a total of over 300,000 jobs. These must not be compromised in the reform of inheritance tax. At the end of 2014 the Federal Constitutional Court released its long-awaited ruling on inheritance tax. The clear formulation used by the Court is seen as positive by the CCI in its statement that business-related regulations for safeguarding company succession are required. However, the

Court specified corrections in particular for small businesses with up to 20 employees and for family businesses classified as “large“. For this, the CCI intends to develop specific solution proposals which do not place an undue burden on companies, offer permanent legal certainty and are as unbureaucratic as possible. With this aim, the CCI is conducting discussions with various groups and invited politicians and scientists to the headquarters of the Stuttgart CCI in the spring of 2015 for an exchange of views with industry.

Efforts to obtain tax simplification successful Less bureaucracy and more room for successful economic activity are permanent themes on the fiscal law agenda of the CCI. In the workgroups set up by the CCI to deal with income tax, value-added tax and transfer pricing, companies have been able to discuss practical problems with the tax authorities. For example, important legal corrections have been made with respect to the new regulations on the reverse charge taxation in the metal trade. The CCI has also been successful in its attempts to relax the regulations pertaining to the reconciliation of family and career. Its demand for tax exemption for the use of family services has been enshrined in law. The annual exchange with the administrative authorities will be continued by the CCI in 2015, as well as its commitment to reducing excessive bureaucracy, especially in the fiscal mass procedure.

spending should not exceed revenues, but also that the existing debts should be massively reduced. The budget analysis which the CCI is also carrying out for 2015 will be sent to all municipal decision-makers and serve as a basis for discussion on the regional budget talks.

Securing Skilled Workers Skilled Specialists Alliances active throughout the entire region In the district of Göppingen a new Skilled Specialists Alliance was founded in 2014 with the active participation of the District Chamber of the CCI and its main areas were specified. The CCI is committed to ensuring that greater use is made of the possibilities of part-time training and is campaigning for this among businesses. In 2015 it will show at an event with best practice examples what form the implementation within companies should take. In order to acquire college drop-outs within the district for the dual training, the District Chamber is involved in talks with the universities. The local “Ideas Workshop for Career and Family in the District of Göppingen“ alliance, in which the District Chamber plays an active role, will be devoting itself this year to the themes of the reconciliation of nursing care and career, as well as company-supported, flexible childcare opportunities provided by childminders.

Municipalities reducing debt levels too slowly The CCI analysis of municipal budgets of the state capital and the 25 major district towns again shows the unwillingness of many municipalities to consolidate their budgets. Despite the continued good revenue situation, many local authorities are even taking on more debt. The CCI is demanding that not only

In late November 2014 the Skilled Specialists Alliance was founded in the district of Ludwigsburg, where the local District Chamber also operates. One project of the Alliance supports young migrants: for the very diverse group of pupils with a migration background at the vocational schools in the district, “taster“ internships shall be offered by businesses. CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

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Photo: Fotolia/rido

Taking advantages of the differences in the workforce in terms of age, gender or origin – that is the aim of diversity management.

The Böblingen District Chamber of the CCI intends to tackle the problem of skilled employees in the district as one of its main priorities. On the basis of an expert opinion on the future drawn up together with the district of Böblingen, the Alliance is planning to work closely with other local partners on a district-wide initiative to secure skilled employees. This will then mean that in addition to the state-wide Skilled Specialist Alliance, there will be alliances in all districts of the region in which the CCI is also always involved and playing an active part in measures to ensure the supply of skilled workers. This task is becoming increasingly important: the CCI has calculated with its skilled employees monitor that by 2030 there will be an average shortage of 200,000 skilled employees in Baden-Württemberg every year.

First state-wide Diversity Congress What the CCI does Services in the field of securing skilled workers: • Forecasts of developments in the supply of and demand for skilled employees in the region • Commitment to securing skilled workers in the region and better reconciliation of family and career • Online portal with information and practical tips for securing skilled employees at www.stuttgart.ihk.de/fachkraeftesicherung • Member of the Skilled Employees Alliance of Baden-Württemberg and regional skilled employees alliances, participation in Advisory Boards of the local authorities and job centres • Organisation of a working group on the securing of skilled workers with personnel managers from companies • Support for companies with their age structure analysis (www.fachkraeftemonitor-bw.de) and skilled workers planning (www.demografierechner-bw.de)

As a partner of the Ministry of Finance and Economics, the CCI for the Stuttgart Region held the first state-wide Diversity Congress in October 2014. More than 400 participants informed themselves in eight professional forums about diversity in small and medium-sized enterprises, the culture of welcome for foreign professionals, flexible working or mixed-age teams, among other things. 25 exhibitors gave the visitors additional insights at their trade fair booths into the topic. “Diversity“ highlights the wide variety of employees at the company – for example, differences in origin, gender, age, religion or even marital status and view of life. The aim is to promote this diversity in the company, to see the different talents of each employee as a resource and make use of it for the success of the company.

Shortage of skilled workers analysed

• Events on the marketing of employers and training

The existing regional Skilled Specialists Alliance in the RemsMurr District – F. A. I. R. – will continue to operate. In February 2015 a corresponding agreement was signed. New partners included in the alliance are the Rems-Murr District and the Rems-Murr District Association of the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB). In 2014 the Alliance also held many events in cooperation with FamilyNET on the themes of the reconciliation of family and career and initiated a trade fair for training in the health and nursing care professions. For 2015 there are topics such as employer branding, state-specific recruitment projects and considerations regarding the technical implementation of a Welcome Centre in the Rems-Murr District on the agenda.

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36 per cent of companies stated in a state-wide survey by the CCI in the autumn of 2014 that they could not fill some of the vacancies. This is particularly pronounced at the temporary employment agencies, in the hotel and catering industry, as well as in the construction industry. The largest shortages are found among the skilled employees with vocational training. In order to address the shortage of skilled workers, most companies are focusing on increased education and training. Other important measures are those undertaken to increase their attractiveness as an employer or improve the reconciliation of family and career. The CCI supports businesses in their strategies to ensure the supply of skilled workers. Every tenth business is also considering transferring some of its business activities abroad. The sectors which are especially affected want to recruit foreign skilled employees particularly frequently. Problems they encounter are an insufficient

Photo: eyeti

A successful integration project for refugees has been initiated by Sven Noack, Managing Director of the firm eyeti systems + solutions GmbH & Co. KG in Nürtingen. After the refugees have been accepted into the local football club, the search is now started for employment and training opportunities.

knowledge of German, the assessment of their qualifications or difficulties in finding such individuals in other countries. Most companies also want to keep older employees for as long as possible. 82 per cent can imagine employing their workers beyond the legal retirement age. The pension at 63 has a counter-productive effect in this respect, with every tenth company having felt the negative impacts just a short time after the new regulations came into force.

Family-friendly personnel policy secures skilled workers How to make themselves a more attractive employer for their current and future employees was the subject of the extensive information provided to companies in June 2014 at the statewide “Securing Skilled Employees Theme Week of the CCI“. At the events organised in conjunction with the CCI Theme Week focusing on career and family, experts provided information on how to develop strategic human resources work to ensure the supply of skilled workers, the form that the specific measures take and how they can be anchored within the company.

Keeping employees fit with company health management Keeping the dwindling supply of skilled workers highly productive and healthy is the task of the corporate health management system (CHM). Companies which offer CHM measures can also advertise this fact and therefore show themselves to be an attractive employer. Especially for small and mediumsized companies, the CCI for the Stuttgart Region has designed and held a series of events together with its Healthcare Industry Committee. At these events, around 500 representatives from companies could inform themselves about the specific application and implementation of CHM measures free

of charge. Due to the strong demand, further CHM seminars will be following this year.

District Chamber supports companies with addiction treatment and prevention About ten per cent of all employees endanger their health through the risky consumption of nicotine, alcohol, medications and performance-enhancing substances. In a concerted campaign with the District Office and the Südwestmetall trade union, the CCI in Esslingen-Nürtingen is approaching companies to support them with prevention. For executives and trainers there are specialist consultation sessions and training courses so that they can help their employees with personal crises and illnesses more effectively and with greater expertise.

Entrepreneur integration project for refugees The Esslingen-Nürtingen District Chamber of the CCI is supporting a project for refugees at the home for refugees in Nürtingen-Neckarhausen which was initiated by entrepreneurs from Nürtingen and District Assembly member Sven Noack. With the involvement of local companies, associations and the Asylum Working Group, the aim is to make it easier for the residents to integrate and cope with everyday life. As a result of their being accepted into the local sports club and joint training sessions, initial acquaintances have now been established. The home for refugees has also been equipped with Internet and a television connection and the residents provided with IT equipment so that they can establish contacts with their family members in their homeland. Taking into consideration the current regulations, the predominantly young and highly motivated refugees are now also to be offered an opportunity to get a job or training place. CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

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Vocational and Further Training Vocational Training

Even though there are still a large number of apprenticeships on offer, fewer training contracts were again concluded in the fields of manufacturing industry, trade and services. With around 10,600 new contracts, the CCI has recorded a decline from the previous year by two per cent. The causes lie in demographic developments and the unbroken trend towards higher education studies. Thanks to the intensive efforts of companies and the many support services of the CCI, the reduction was at least moderate. The CCI and its member companies will not let up again this year with its promotion of the dual training and the direct transfer of young people from school to vocational training.

New agreements between government and industry In December 2014 the government reached a new agreement with industry at the federal level on a new alliance for education and training: industry intends to register a total of 20,000 additional apprenticeships with the Employment Agencies this year. Furthermore, every applicant who is willing to be placed on a training programme and who has not been provided with a place by the end of September will receive three training offers. Companies will receive even more support with the training of young people who underachieve. In the ongoing negotiations for a new training alliance in Baden-Württemberg, the CCI aims to ensure that more qualitative aspects and joint measures of the partners are agreed.

Projects and measures for trainee placement Almost 800 applicants have been provided with training places or places for entry qualification within the framework of the “Apprentice wanted? CCI applicant placement“ project. After the placement rate had increased steadily each year, the seven-member team was again able to significantly improve on its record in 2014. In view of the demographic developments, this free service of the CCI is increasingly in demand from small and medium-sized companies in the region. In February, the CCI in Stuttgart organised an Apprentice Speed Dating event on six consecutive days, during which young people and training companies were able to obtain an initial impression of one another. The Ludwigsburg and RemsMurr District Chambers have also had positive experiences of Apprentice Speed Dating. With a hands-on careers fair, during which various professions requiring formal training can be

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Photo: Fotolia/Ehrenberg-Bilder

Number of training contracts continues to decline

The successful placement of young people in appropriate training places is the target of numerous measures of the CCI.

tested in practice, the Esslingen-Nürtingen District Chamber will be visiting Kirchheim unter Teck in May. In the Böblingen District Chamber, parent-pupil evenings at secondary schools have proven to be particularly successful. These will be intensified in 2015. The Rems-Murr District Chamber also wants to offer events for parents. The Chamber will be approaching schools for which the District Chamber of the CCI has mediated educational partnerships. At education fairs and Days of Action in all districts of the Stuttgart Region, the CCI and its District Chambers have been informing pupils about professions and training companies. Increasingly, apprenticeship exchanges and consultations are being made available at vocational schools. The aim here is to inform students at vocational colleges and vocational schools about the opportunities and options offered by dual vocational education and training.

CCI youth study supporting businesses in their targeted search for apprentices Three-quarters of young people in Baden-Württemberg believe that vocational training offers good career opportunities, but only one-quarter of those surveyed are planning to actually take part in vocational training. Furthermore, many young people do not feel sufficiently informed, although there are many offers in existence. This was the result of a study of young people which the CCIs in Baden-Württemberg commissioned under the auspices of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region. The study analyses – while distinguishing between living environments, gender and the level of education – the motivations and wishes for the future of young people in Baden-Württemberg. It offers companies an assessment basis and gives important tips on how to approach potential ap-

Photo: Angelika Grossmann/DEHOGA

With the “trainer promise“, the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA) and the CCIs guarantee the quality of training in catering establishments. Other sectors are to follow.

prentices in a more targeted way and adapt the marketing of professional training measures so that it is better suited to the respective target group.

mulate rules for this and set up a series of training courses for businesses with the title “Designing training“ to be successful.

Top apprentices honoured At a free information event, the results and recommended actions were presented to a broad general public in December 2014. Further events will follow this year.

Training quality initiative expanded Following the successful launch of the joint quality training initiative by the CCIs with the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA) in Baden-Württemberg two years ago, the “trainer promise“ is now to be expanded to commercial establishments. The Baden-Württemberg Trade Association and the CCIs in the state are thereby providing committed training companies with a tool to position themselves as exemplary trainers and employers. The quality of the training is also subject to the scrutiny of the quality circles in the hotel and restaurant industry, which were established in 2014 in Stuttgart and Böblingen. The CCI is thereby offering those responsible for personnel and training in the hotel trade and catering establishments a platform for professional exchanges and networking. In Böblingen, the District Administration has voted unanimously and emphatically in favour of providing pupils with the opportunity to attend high-quality yet inexpensive schools in their neighbourhood. The main focus in 2015 will be concerted measures to recruit young talent. The new working group known as the “Honourable Businessman in the Field of Training“ at the Esslingen-Nürtingen District Chamber also deals with the subject of quality. Its aim is to for-

In 2014 it was again possible to celebrate outstanding achievements of CCI apprentices from the Stuttgart Region: of the 124 best apprentices in Baden-Württemberg, 22 come from the Stuttgart Region. Four apprentices from the region also obtained the best qualification in their profession throughout Germany. The award ceremony for the top apprentices in the state was held in Reutlingen in November. The national winners were honoured in Berlin in December. In addition, the graduates with very good examination results were honoured at ceremonies in the individual CCI districts. For the first time the prize donated by Manfred Gebauer of Aktivmarkt Gebauer GmbH in Göppingen was awarded for outstanding achievements in the field of training. Here, the graduates were honoured who had also done something positive for the community during their training or who had had to obtain their training qualification under difficult conditions. The prize will be awarded annually in the future.

Four businesses receive the CCI Training Innovation Award The 2014 Training Innovation Award of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region has been awarded to Robert Bosch GmbH of Waiblingen and Waiblingen District Savings Bank. One recognition award each went to the Flughafen Stuttgart GmbH and Maag Technic GmbH of Göppingen. This award recognises the special commitment of training companies which have developed and implemented exemplary projects in the field of iniCCI Annual Report 14 | 15

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Photo: IHK-Bildungshaus

On modern machines the inter-company job training for apprentices in the metal and electrical trades is provided at the CCI Training House. The training workshop was expanded last year.

What the CCI does Services in the field of vocational training: • Modernisation of dual vocational education and training, further development and introduction of recognised professions requiring formal training • Advertising for additional apprenticeships and internships for entry-level qualification, candidate placement • Support for the training process, from the registration of the contract to the implementation of the intermediate and final examination • Determination of suitability and provision of advice to the training company by the CCI training advisers • Support for apprentices and companies in order to avoid course dropouts • Support for training companies with foreign owners, acquisition of young people with an immigrant background for training, as well as the provision of advice to parents • Promotion of cooperation between businesses and vocational schools • Improvement in the training opportunities for young people of lower abilities • Development and certification of entry-level qualifications, as well as counselling and placement of the participants • Development of additional qualifications in line with requirements and abilities • Performance of industry-wide training measures • Implementation of retraining examinations • Publication of apprenticeships and internships on the CCI apprenticeship exchange on the Internet • Further training scholarships and award of CCI scholarships • Partner of the Go.for.europe service centre for the mediation of foreign internships for apprentices in Europe • Award of the Training Innovation Prize • CCI Arbitration Committee for training disputes • Recognition of examination certificates from abroad • Development of examination tasks for technical professions

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tial training. The Training Innovation Award is presented every two years.

CCI Training House: more space and better liaison and support for inter-company training Since September 2014 there has been a separate workshop for the training of electronic and mechatronic engineers at the CCI Training House in Remshalden-Grunbach. This had become necessary, as the number of young people in inter-company training in the metalworking trades, as well as those training to become electronic and mechatronic engineers had risen to one hundred. With the departure of the electronic and mechatronic engineers from the large workshop, all apprentices now have more space and can be served even better. Furthermore, since January 2015 two master electricians have been responsible for the 33 apprentices of small and medium-sized companies in their first year of training.

New offer for college drop-outs from IT and natural sciences With speed.it, the CCI is offering college drop-outs a special programme which has been developed jointly with the it.school stuttgart. Former students of mathematics, physics, computer science, business information systems and similar disciplines with hardware and software knowledge can, under certain circumstances, reduce their training time as an IT specialist from 36 to 18 months. For the new training offer, which was launched at the beginning of March 2015, a separate vocational school class with a tight timetable was established. The CCI is recording a sharp increase in college drop-outs when placing applicants in dual vocational education and training professions.

Last year the CCI established a working group under the name “Professional Inclusion“. The aim of this group with about 50 members from the Stuttgart Region is to promote vocational training for people with disabilities and improve the conditions for this. The CCI working group has already met for the fifth time. Advisers from the fields of science and research have submitted representative studies and survey results, and institutions and associations presented new projects and support offers. Current practical examples from companies which implement successful inclusion measures were presented by the CCI at the event “Inclusion in the economy – making it a success!“ in December 2014. The CCI will continue its commitment to ensuring that even more people with disabilities are trained within companies. As part of a programme of the Job Centre of the City of Stuttgart, the CCI plans to set up the post of an Inclusion Officer.

Improving the training opportunities for young refugees The CCI aims to improve the opportunities for young refugees to complete an apprenticeship in Germany. The situation on the training market and the demand for skilled workers from industry offer good opportunities for this. In order to implement this, the CCI sees a need for some important policy decisions and measures.

Photo: Thinkstock

Integrating people with disabilities into the world of work

In order to promote the training and employment of disabled people, the CCI has established an “Inclusion“ working group.

nesses with foreign owners with respect to training. Migrant organisations, entrepreneurs‘ and parents‘ associations will be included in this. In October the KAUSA service centre organised for the first time together with the Esslingen Skilled Employees Alliance, to which the Esslingen-Nürtingen District Chamber of the CCI belongs, an information event for young people with a migration background and their parents. The consulting services are to be expanded again in 2015 in order to sustainably promote the subject of “Training and Migration“ in the Stuttgart Region. The service centre is supported to the tune of around 330,000 euros as a JOBSTARTER project from funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Avoiding training drop-outs The basic requirement is that no applicant for asylum may be deported during training. It is also essential that existing skills are identified at an early stage and language barriers broken down quickly. During training, support services must be available which also include social support. Together with other business organisations, the CCI will work towards ensuring that the state sets up a corresponding special programme for refugees.

KAUSA service centre for apprentices and businesses with a migration background With the KAUSA service centre, the CCI for the Stuttgart Region has a facility which advises young people, their parents and business owners with a migration background on all matters relating to training and profession. The aim is to incorporate more young people with a migration background into dual training and take advantage of the potential of busi-

The project of the Rems-Murr District Chamber “Avoiding drop-outs – supporting training“, which was completed in December 2014, has shown that the initiative to cancel a training contract comes from the trainee in around two-thirds of cases. Only in one-third of cases does the initiative come from the training company itself. 70 per cent of young people state that the reasons for their dropping out of their training are operational reasons. In order to prevent any drop-outs, the CCI Training House holds seminars for the target group of trainers under the motto “Strong for Education“. In the Böblingen District Chamber, the identification and initiation of countermeasures in the case of training problems was also a priority issue. In March 2015, for example, there was an event on the topic of “conducting critical discussions successfully“.

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What the CCI does Services in the field of school and business collaboration: • Official opinions on training policy and school development • Setting up and management of training partnerships between companies and schools • School education and mediation of apprentices as training ambassadors for advertising dual vocational education and training

Photo: Imago

• CCI school and business working groups • Partner in the award of the career choice SEALs for schools that provide a general education with special career guidance • “Little Scientists‘ House” network for the promotion of interest in scientific topics at daycare facilities for children

The dual vocational education and training system is a major export: the demand for qualified skilled workers based on the German model is growing.

New Project “INPUT – Training“

Cooperation School – Business

At the beginning of February 2015 the Göppingen District Chamber launched the JOBSTARTER project “INPUT – Training“ together with BBQ Berufliche Bildung gGmbH Göppingen. As part of the “Initiative to use existing potential and talents for training“ (INPUT), young people with increased support requirements are to be provided with dual training and the training companies supported in particular by means of consulting services. The aim is to make the companies fit for the training of disadvantaged young people. The project is funded by the European Social Fund and runs for three years.

New transitions from school to a profession

Exporting training to the world markets The dual training based on the German model is gaining in importance due to the strong demand from international companies for skilled professionals. The companies want skilled employees who are geared to the needs of the workplace, have been trained in accordance with the companies‘ requirements and will stay with them over the long term. In the first quarter of 2014, the CCI series of events “Exporting training to the world markets“ used examples from China and the USA to highlight the different target countries and approaches of companies. The events were concluded by the specialist congress on “Vocational training in and from Germany – globally in demand“, which was held by the Ministry of Finance and Economics in Baden-Württemberg in cooperation with the CCI for the Stuttgart Region and Handwerk International at GlobalConnect in November 2014, where international experts from government and industry discussed which business opportunities the exporting of training harbours and how it can be implemented in different target markets.

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With the beginning of the 2014/2015 school year, the “AV dual“ pilot project on dual training preparation was launched in the area covered by the Rems-Murr District Chamber. This is part of the redesign of the transition from school to a profession, on the concept of which the CCI also worked. School-age young people with special needs are prepared for professional training at a vocational school with a large corporate component. The CCI helps to procure corresponding internship places. In the Rems-Murr District it has been possible to provide almost 300 young people with internships in this manner. This year the dual vocational training system known as “BQ dual“ is to be added for pupils who have not signed a training contract.

In favour of Economics as a school subject – but information technology should not be neglected The CCI welcomes the planned introduction of the school subject “Economics and Professional Orientation“. Basic education in economics has become part of general education. Through intelligent integration with professional orientation, which should also be included as a guiding perspective in future educational plans, it is possible to improve the present lack of knowledge of many young people about professions and career development prospects. In order to support teachers in this field, the CCIs have developed an advanced training concept and submitted to the Minister of Education. In addition, the CCI is calling for significantly greater consideration of information technology content in schools. The CCI regrets that the planned educational reforms have so far

Photo: Deutschland – Land der Ideen/Jens Oswald

Bild IHK-Bildungshaus

The “Training Ambassadors“ state campaign initiated by the CCI and funded by the Ministry of Finance and Economics in Baden-Württemberg has received an award in the federal competition “Ideas for the Educational Republic“. This is now to be expanded.

not included the teaching of computer science as a separate subject.

SIEGEL career choice for schools with exemplary professional orientation

the time that the project has been running to achieve a diverse spread of initiatives by expanding the fields of application of the Education Ambassadors to theme days for professional orientation, career simulation games and job fairs.

A-levels and apprenticeships For the eighth time the Baden-Württemberg SIEGEL career choice was awarded in 2014 to schools offering general education. In the Stuttgart Region a total of 17 schools have received awards in the past year for providing outstanding and exemplary professional orientation for their pupils, as well as help and advice with their choice of a profession. Twenty-five schools have registered for the next round of proposals for initial or recertification. The award will be presented at the end of June 2015 at the CCI Centre in Stuttgart. The SIEGEL career choice is supported by the CCI in Baden-Württemberg, the Baden-Württemberg Handwerkstag (Association of Craftsmen) and the Baden-Württemberg State Association of Employers‘ Organisations.

“Training Ambassadors“ initiative expanded The “Training Ambassadors“ project initiated by the CCI is now receiving a great reception well beyond the state‘s borders. A total of six CCI employees in the Stuttgart Region coordinated 1,031 school assignments of the more than 800 Education Ambassadors by December and thereby reached almost 25,000 pupils. The CCI has applied for further support from the Ministry of Finance and Economics in Baden-Württemberg from April 2015 to the end of 2017. The aim in the next phase of the project will be to address grammar school pupils and college drop-outs more intensely and expand the parents work. It has already been possible in

In July 2014 the Esslingen-Nürtingen District Chamber of the CCI in cooperation with the State Employment Agency informed school leavers with A-level qualifications about the possibilities of dual training. More than a hundred interested pupils and their parents had accepted the invitation to come to Esslingen. There the Education Ambassadors with A-levels also described their motives and experience and showed that dual training can be a worthwhile alternative to university studies for pupils with A-level qualifications. A similar event is planned for this year.

Developing educational partnerships In February 2015 the Esslingen-Nürtingen District Chamber of the CCI invited all cooperation partners from schools and training companies to the fifth Training Partner Conference. In addition to guest and specialist presentations by representatives from business and education, the focus was on the exchange of experience and ideas between the cooperation partners. The Göppingen District Chamber of the CCI uses the various stimuli resulting from its educational partner meetings for the further development of these partnerships between schools and companies. One focal point will be the subject of training marketing. The basis for this is a survey among the participating companies and schools. In the autumn of 2015 an educational partnership market place is to be held once more. CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

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What the CCI does Further training services: • Organisation and implementation of recognised advanced training course examinations for CCI Professionals • Implementation of the trainer aptitude examination • Development of business-related advanced training course profiles • Seminars, courses and presentations for promotion and adaptation in professional life

The Messelberg School in Donzdorf was able to sign eight educational partnership agreements at a stroke. The agreed cooperation projects range from internships, company tours and workplace explorations to job exchanges and other exciting projects between schools and businesses.

“House of Little Scientists“ – expansion of the network in the region The CCI for the Stuttgart Region, the Baden-Württemberg Association of the Metal and Electrical Industry South-West Metal and the Stuttgart Region Council for Economic Development are now pooling their commitments to early childhood education in a new regional network. The aim is to win over even more kindergartens which arouse the children‘s interest in natural sciences and technology and specifically promote their education in these fields. For the last five years the CCI has been organising the “House of Little Scientists“ network in the region of Stuttgart, in which over 590 kindergartens participate. 126 facilities have also had themselves certified as a “House of Little Scientists“ and in this way show their sustained interest in carrying out research with children in everyday life.

• Advice and information, for example with the help of the CCI Further Training Information System (WIS) database • Advice on subsidy programmes such as Meister-BAföG (financial assistance for skilled workers taking courses in advanced training) and the training grant • Award of the Further Training Innovation Prize • Promotion of permeability between professional and academic training

Chamber became one of the few locations within Germany where it is possible to take this examination, which is divided up into a section that covers a wide range of specialisations, as well as a specific part. The specialisations offered are mechanical and plant engineering, heating, air-conditioning and sanitary engineering, steel and metal construction engineering, electrical engineering and wood technology. The examination was held for the first time with eight candidates in cooperation with a supplier of automotive parts in Ostfildern, which at the same time acted as a training institute. A new course is expected to start in the second half of 2015.

VFB career portal for recruiting skilled employees Since the spring of 2015 the Verein zur Förderung der Berufsbildung e. V. (VFB – “Association for the Promotion of Vocational Training“) has been offering its member companies and partners a new platform for the recruitment of skilled employees. On the VFB career portal at www.vfb-karriere.de, well-known companies from the region publish current vacancies and internships. Every year more than 3,000 participants in qualification measures of the VFB in the commercial and technical field are provided with access to the portal.

Putting innovative further training to the test Further Training New advanced training course examination as a “Certified Designer“ The advanced training course examination as a “Certified Designer“ can now also be taken in the Stuttgart Region. Recently the Nürtingen office of the Esslingen-Nürtingen District

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Since the autumn of 2014, regional businesses have been able to have a benchmarking test carried out by the VFB in the field of further training. This provides the individuals responsible for the further training with professional feedback on the quality of the individual staff development areas within the company. The subjects tested are sustainability, quality, corporate orientation, further training topics, organisation and training implementation. After an initial on-site analysis and the subsequent

Photo: GARP

Further training with a CCI certificate is worthwhile for companies and employees. Practically focused courses and examinations are offered by the educational institutions of the CCI, among others.

professional assessment by the VFB, the participating company receives suggestions for improvements. The offer has been very well received by companies throughout the region.

New qualification as an Energy Scout at the CCI Training House Rising energy prices and the energy revolution heralded by the federal government have increased the focus of many companies on the subject of energy efficiency and potential savings. In collaboration with the Energy Committee, the CCI Training House will be offering the qualification module of “Energy Scout“ for apprentices so that in their companies they can contribute towards identifying and using potential energy savings. In addition, in times when skilled employees are in short supply, companies can increase their attractiveness as employers with this interesting qualification. The five one-day workshop modules will be held within the framework of the funded project “SME initiative for the energy revolution and climate protection“ and will start in the spring of 2015. As the project is funded, participation is free of charge for companies.

Strengthening practical skills with the GARP Training Centre The GARP Training Centre for the CCI for the Stuttgart Region can look back in 2014 on one of its most successful business years ever. In the service of its industrial clients, the training institute invests continually in its metalworking and electrical workshops and laboratories with modern machines, equipment and software.

In order to make compact knowledge quickly available, the GARP Training Centre has developed some new two-day “crash courses“ for small and medium-sized enterprises on the subjects of Business Administration, Project Management, Accounting, Marketing, Public Relations and Personnel. Further individual training courses on “soft skills“ up to “Industry 4.0“ level are being drawn up in accordance with specific customer requirements. Depending on the topic, flexible methods such as “mobile learning“ are used.

Higher Education Policy Continuing exchanges based on higher education policy With the amendment to the State Higher Education Law and the conclusion of the “Outlook 2020“ agreement on the financing of higher education institutions, important higher education policy projects were on the agenda of the state in 2014. In various discussions with the rectors of the regional institutes of higher education and the Science Minister, the CCI incorporated the position and expertise of the regional economy. The talks will continue in 2015. One focus will be on presenting the regional results of the current survey among institutes of higher education conducted by the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) on the level of satisfaction with the Bachelor‘s/Master‘s degree courses.

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Photo: Hörner

International

At Global Connect in Stuttgart, around 3,300 visitors informed themselves about foreign markets, business opportunities and potential cooperation partners in November 2014.

Countries and Markets

GlobalConnect networking the world

Regional economy driving internationalisation forward

GlobalConnect in Stuttgart has established itself as Germany‘s largest and most important platform for exports and internationalisation. Foreign trade experts from 35 countries and around 3,300 visitors from all over the world attended the forum in November 2014. The Baden-Württemberg Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the organisation Handwerk International, the Ministry of Finance and Economics and BadenWürttemberg International supported the event organised by Messe Stuttgart as partners.

The companies in the Stuttgart Region are adhering to their strategy of continuous internationalisation. According to a survey of the CCI, the companies want to further expand their foreign investments. Since the crisis year of 2009, the proportion of companies which are investing abroad has continuously climbed from 35 to 42 per cent. Never before this value has been so high. The export share in the Stuttgart Region is also remarkable: manufacturing industry in the region generates more than 63 per cent of its turnover abroad on average, with the figure for Baden-Württemberg as a whole being around 53 per cent. Regional businesses are expecting particular stimuli to come from the emerging markets in Asia and from North America. The USA remains the most important foreign trading partner of the local export economy. The CCI survey, in which around 960 companies participated, also showed that the foreign commercial activities of the company‘s have a positive impact on the domestic labour market: the employment plans of businesses which operate in the field of foreign trade are significantly more positive than those which are only active within Germany. The CCI supports the region‘s businesses with their international commitments. It is calling upon federal and state politicians to stand up to protectionism and bureaucracy and commit themselves to sustainable free trade based on a market economy, as well as fair international competition.

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The central information market place consisted of the booths of the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) from around 40 countries. During the International Consulting Days, AHK market experts provided information in individual discussions on market entry strategies, special legal and fiscal aspects or the search for new business partners. A Cooperation Exchange enabled direct contact with potential business partners. A trade fair at which around 140 service providers, institutions and associations presented themselves rounded off the event. Current issues were addressed during special events. The Minister of Finance and Economics Dr. Nils Schmid presented the GlobalConnect Award, with which outstanding achievements of German companies in international business are honoured. The next GlobalConnect will be held at the end of October 2016. In November 2015, representatives of the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad will again be available to interested companies at the International Consulting Day.

The crisis in Ukraine has led to a significant deterioration in relations between the West and Russia. The sanctions imposed on both sides have brought about a collapse in the already weakened foreign trade relations. In the district of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region, businesses are disproportionately affected because the important sectors of mechanical engineering, automobiles and electrical engineering traditionally have a large market share in Russia. Reductions in the numbers of orders occurred due to financial constraints on the Russian side and uncertainties with respect to business transactions as result of the embargo regulations. Owing to the increased need of businesses for information, the CCI has been offering an increased number of events and consulting opportunities. The CCI was able to clarify specific questions on export processing with the customs and licensing authorities, enabling it to respond very quickly with detailed information and a test pattern for goods deliveries.

Photo: Kuhnle

Russia embargo having negative consequences for companies in the region

The Russian Minister of Economic Development Dr. Alexei Ulyukayev gave an assessment at the CCI of future economic relations with Russia.

What the CCI does Services in the international business field: • Information and advice on countries and markets • Advice on export and import transactions, customs procedures and safety rules

Companies were also able to find out more about the current economic situation in Russia at the Russia Day as part of GlobalConnect or during the visit of the Russian Minister of Economic Development Dr. Alexei Ulyukayev at the CCI at the end of November 2014 at the. The topic will remain relevant in 2015 due to the continuing tense political situation.

• Information on export controls and embargoes

Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement TTIP under discussion

• Issuing of international carnet de passage booklets (ATA/CPD carnets)

The CCI for the Stuttgart Region is accompanying the negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and USA. It is pushing for an SME-friendly treaty and for focusing attention on actual ways of making the process of supplying goods and services across the Atlantic easier. After the conclusion of the seventh round of negotiations the CCI arrived at the conclusion that in spite of all of the justified criticism, an objective discussion was underway and attributed this to the active constructive participation of companies. The discussion on investment protection clauses, public services and employees‘ rights is based on a critical scrutiny of the negotiations.

• Advice on the required export and import documents, sale of forms • Issuing of (electronic) certificates of origin and certificates used for foreign trade transactions • Advice on the origin of goods, decision on the origin according to trade policy

• Information on foreign business law and advice on direct investments and projects abroad • Information and advice on the promotion and financing of foreign trade • Mediation of contact persons for foreign trade, arrangement of co-operation partners • Information on foreign trade fairs and foreign business statistics • Foreign trade events such as company cooperation discussions and exchanges, seminars, presentations, delegations and participation in trade fairs • Enterprise Europe Network: information and advice on European markets and EU subsidy programmes, mediation of cooperations in Europe, public procurement • CCI ProServ International: information and advice on the project business and invitations to tender for national and international financial and development organisations

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Projects and Programmes

Photo: Thinkstock

Enterprise Europe Network – the next round

Better trade relations between the USA and the EU – this is the commitment of the CCI organisation while accompanying the negotiations on the TTIP.

Last year the CCI organisation represented the interests of the SME sector on various political levels in Brussels, to the federal government or at the state level. At GlobalConnect 2014 the CCI for the Stuttgart Region organised a high-level panel discussion with US Ambassador John B. Emerson, during which the American and the European side of the negotiations were expounded. At the Ludwigsburg District Chamber, Andreas J. Povel, General Manager of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, explained the opportunities and challenges presented by the TTIP. The year 2015 will bring with it new types of impetus: the new responsible European Commissioner Cecilia Malmström wants to see more transparency. The impacts which the new composition of the US Congress will have on the positioning of the USA will be shown by the further rounds of negotiations.

CCI Business Trips lead to Europe and Asia In order to give local businesses an insight into foreign markets and enable contacts with authorities or discussions on cooperation, the CCIs in Baden-Württemberg offer trips for entrepreneurs. These are handled by the IHK Exportakademie GmbH. All participating Baden-Württemberg companies benefit from financial support. In addition to delegation visits to Russia, Italy, Canada and Austria/Italy, there was a market research trip to Western China in 2014 to show the economic potential of the country beyond the conurbations on the south and east coast. In 2015 trips to Poland, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Ireland, Russia, Iran and Turkey are planned.

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After the expiry of the last funding period in 2014, the EU project Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) is now entering the next round. The CCI for the Stuttgart Region has applied together with the other nine Baden-Württemberg EEN partners for a continuation of the project until 2020 and has received the agreement of the EU. Small and medium-sized enterprises are still supported with their internationalisation, cross-border technology transfer and searches for cooperation partners throughout Europe. The Enterprise Europe Network offers businesses cooperation exchanges, information events on specific EU themes and a partner search via the EEN Partnering Opportunity Database.

Customs Duties and Procedures CCI preparing businesses for new EU customs legislation In May 2016 the new Customs Code of the European Union enters into force. One of the key tasks of the CCI in 2015 is to prepare the provisions of the new law in such a way that a smooth transition is possible for companies. In addition to changes to customs procedures and the simplifications for exporters, there is a significant change to the supplier‘s declaration. Until now there has been a separate regulation for this. In the future it will be regulated by the customs legislation. Consulting practice shows that there is already considerable uncertainty about this. The CCI is therefore adapting itself to this subject with its information and consulting services.

Record year for certificates of origin The regional economy with its strong exports applied for more certificates of origin in 2014 than ever before. In the fulfilment of this sovereign task, the CCI demonstrates its particular proximity to the customer. At the CCI headquarters in Stuttgart there are specialists available during the normal hours of service at a large foreign trade counter in the entrance area to provide assistance with certificates, sell forms and act as points of contact for an initial consultation. In the region there are corresponding counters in the District Chambers.

Photo: fotolia/Tashatuvango

Photo: Imago

The strength of exports is a plus point for the Stuttgart economic region. However, the export of certain goods is becoming more difficult, as licences now have to be obtained for more goods due to the amended Dual-Use Regulations. Assistance is provided by the CCI.

At the same time the CCI continues to develop the electronic certificate of origin, offering exporters a time and cost-saving alternative to the paper document.

AGGs are export licences for certain goods and certain recipient countries for which no individual licence needs to be applied for – saving time for the exporter.

More companies affected by export controls

“Compact Export Knowledge“ at the Böblingen District Chamber

A change to the EC Dual-Use Regulation confronted many export companies for the first time with the topic of export controls at the end of 2014. As a result of the new version of the Regulation, many goods that were previously classified as uncritical may now only be exported with a licence. It is up to the businesses themselves to determine whether their product is affected. The CCI provides support with this, for example in its “Foreign Trade Update“ magazine on the Internet and at its events, amongst other sources.

The Böblingen District Chamber of the CCI will be continuing its series of seminars on “Compact Export Knowledge“ in 2015 and expanding its information and consulting offers for export controls. The Customs Working Group of the District Chamber will also be looking in greater depth into this issue this year. The on-site appointments at companies and logistics facilities started last year will be continued.

The new Dual-Use Regulation relates, inter alia, to certain frequency converters, valves and pumps – goods which are found everywhere in the automotive or supply industry, for example. As the technical properties are decisive for classification as dual-use goods, companies have to ask the advice of their design departments or obtain such information from their preliminary suppliers in order to be able to assess whether a licence has to be applied for or not.

AGG-Finder facilitates export control A practical online tool makes it easier for companies to make use of general licences (AGGs) for sensitive exports for which an export licence is required. The so-called AGG-Finder has been developed by the competent Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) at the suggestion of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region.

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Innovation and Environment E-Business Call for broadband expansion The digitisation of the economy places high demands on the connection of companies to the Internet. The CCI and its Information Technology, Services and Telecommunications Committee are critical of the fact that a good broadband connection is not guaranteed for companies everywhere in the Stuttgart Region and are campaigning for improvements this year together with partners such as the Stuttgart Regional Association, local authorities and companies. In a letter drawn up together with the District Office and addressed to Günther Oettinger, the EU Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society, the Böblingen District Chamber pointed out the importance of blanket broadband coverage for businesses and called for a stronger commitment on the part of the European Union. This year the District Chamber has launched the “CCI broadband initiative for the district of Böblingen“, which intends to push forward with the issue of a fast Internet infrastructure. This initiative was kicked off by a round of talks between business representatives and the decision-makers at the local authorities.

CCI information on the risks of digital espionage Industrial espionage in the digital age and the opportunities for preventing it were the focus of the 6th Stuttgart Security Congress of the CCI with the President of the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (the domestic intelligence service of the Federal Republic of Germany) Dr. Hans-Georg Maassen. Around 230 participants from companies, politics, administration and organisations informed themselves about the topics of economic and competitive espionage, risk management, prevention and the possibilities available to defend themselves against espionage attacks. A specialist exhibition with 13 exhibitors presented, among other things, insurance solutions, software for IT protection and certificate courses on the topic of security. At the Stuttgart IT Security Day known as “Trust Day“ in February 2015, there was also information for companies on legal, technical and organisational aspects of IT security.

Support for cloud use With an Internet security check, the intention is that companies should in future be safer on the World Wide Web and be able to use cloud services without risk. The Information Technology, Services and Telecommunications Committee of the CCI has submit-

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What the CCI does Services in the field of e-business: • Commitment to SME-friendly competition conditions in the telecommunications and e-business market • South-West e-Business Pilot: point of contact for small and medium-sized enterprises for electronic business transactions and for information and communication technologies • Mediation of contacts with industry experts, presentation of model solutions • Workshops and brochures on electronic business transactions and IT security • Registration body for the digital signature

ted an application in this respect for a project as part of Digital Agenda 2020+ of the state government. The aim is to provide support to small and medium size companies for the secure use of cloud technology with the “Cloud Mall Baden-Württemberg“.

Roadshow on cloud computing The SouthWest eBusiness pilot group, which is located at the CCI, has designed a roadshow on the subject of cloud computing. The event modules with contents and speakers can be used by all eBusiness pilot groups throughout the country for their events. The target group is small and medium-sized enterprises with little technical knowledge. Among other things, the contents include the disclosure of personal data to third parties and electronic contract data processing.

Innovations and Technology Advice Innovative abilities of the Stuttgart Region at risk A study commissioned by the CCI for the Stuttgart Region on the innovative abilities in the metropolitan region of Stuttgart has confirmed the leading position of the companies with respect to value creation, productivity, expenditure on research and development (R&D) and patent applications, but also uncovered significant weaknesses. According to the study, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are not sufficiently prepared for the coming technological and demographic changes and therefore in some cases less well-equipped to meet the challenges of the future than the companies in the comparable metropolitan regions of Munich, Rhine-Ruhr and the Saxon Triangle. The SMEs in the metropolitan region of Stuttgart are in danger of losing touch with future or high-tech fields.

Photo: Thinkstock

Photo: Porsche

Protection against digital espionage and data security are important issues on the agenda of the CCI. CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

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What the CCI does Services in the field of innovation and technology advice: • Commitment to an SME-friendly technology policy, improved technology transfer and innovation financing which is in line with requirements • Support with the development of new products and processes by CCI innovation advisers • Information and advice on patents and licences • Local analysis of technical optimisation potential within the company and mediation of contacts with research institutions by CCI technology managers

In addition, the study confirmed a further decline in the number of patent applications by SMEs. Over 90 per cent of all patents are registered by large companies. This means that the innovativeness of the metropolitan region of Stuttgart is not supported across-the-board by many small and medium enterprises, but rests on the shoulders of a few large companies. If this development continues, SMEs might become increasingly reliant on large corporations – an exodus of innovation and production capacity could threaten their very existence. The CCI considers that there is a significant need for action here. The study was drawn up by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI and CCIs in Baden-Württemberg.

CCI welcomes dialogue with business on technology transfer The CCI for the Stuttgart Region is participating in the dialogue with business on “technology transfer“ which is being conducted under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance and Economics with representatives from science, SMEs and institutions involved in the promotion of trade and industry. The dialogue has the aim of developing novel tools and measures to improve and accelerate technology transfer. The CCI represents the position of businesses in this and incorporates its many years of experience into supporting small and mediumsized enterprises with their innovations in the form of pragmatic and realizable concepts.

R&D research platform enables access to new technologies The CCI for the Stuttgart Region has set up an internet-based research platform with state-of-the-art semantic search tech-

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• Information on support programmes for research and development • Support with the development of regional competence centres and clusters • Workshops and brochures on new technologies • Workshop series “Business-friendly research institutes: impulses for innovations” • CCI series of lectures on “Business meets science”

nology which enables businesses to specifically find technology transfer and service offers from research institutions in the state of Baden-Württemberg and throughout Germany. Offers from various technology exchanges and patent commercialisation agencies are also listed. The platform will be available free of charge to companies from the spring of 2015. In order to improve access to new technologies and their practical implementation in the company, businesses require partners, service providers, consultants, forms of mutual exchange, cooperations and improved contacts with institutes of higher education and scientific institutions.

Innovation und inventors exhibition “Products in search of producers“ In January 2015, 60 exhibitors – including companies, institutes of higher education and inventors – presented around one hundred innovative technologies for mechanical engineering at the Stuttgart CCI headquarters. At a single location, the new exhibition concept “Products in search of producers“ of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region, the Steinbeis Foundation for Technology and Knowledge Transfer and the Council for Economic Development of the Stuttgart Region offered patented product ideas and technical procedures related to mechanical engineering. The aim is to support the search for cooperation partners for research and development, marketing or production. Minister of Finance and Economics Dr. Nils Schmid opened the exhibition, which included specialist presentations on mechanical engineering and funding opportunities in the field of technology development. The Baden-Württemberg Chambers and the Steinbeis Foundation want to permanently offer joint events under the “Products in search of producers“ brand.

What the CCI does Services in the field of energy and environmental protection, dangerous goods:

Photo: Fotolia/Bartussek

• Commitment to an inexpensive and secure energy supply for business

Energy efficiency in the company is becoming increasingly important. The CCI provides advice and networks.

Energy and Environmental Protection Competence centre for energy efficiency planned Together with the Council for Economic Development for the Region of Stuttgart, the CCI for the Stuttgart Region wants to set up a Competence Centre for Energy Efficiency (KEFF) for the metropolitan region of Stuttgart. This would be part of the state-wide energy efficiency network funded by the state of Baden-Württemberg with a total of twelve regional competence centres. Through the provision of information and initial consultations, as well as links to existing regional energy efficiency or consulting networks, measures within companies should be implemented more quickly and their energy efficiency improved.

“Energy table“ to be extended The “energy table“ implemented by the CCI for the Stuttgart Region together with the CCI in Heilbronn-Franken is to be continued due to the positive experiences of the companies involved. It provides companies with energy costs of more than 150,000 euros per year with the opportunity to identify and take advantage of their potential energy savings. External consultants are also involved in the development of the individual optimization concepts. The energy efficiency network, which was founded in 2012, implemented and completed all of the planned work in 2014. Now the awareness of further interested companies is to be raised and their participation encouraged or new energy efficiency networks established in the region.

“What form of energy will we be using tomorrow?“ The supply of energy in the future was hotly debated at the 9th Stuttgart Climate Discussions organised by the CCI. On

• Information on adaptations and changes to national and European law in the field of environmental protection and energy, as well as information on support programmes • Information and advice on the avoidance and recycling of residual and waste materials, the electronic waste records procedures (eANV), on the packaging regulations and declaration of completeness , on the REACH chemicals and climate protection regulations, as well as on energy efficiency measures • Regional partner for the KfW energy efficiency support programme, CCI energy efficiency network • Contact body for registration in the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) • Overview of manufacturers of environmental protection equipment, disposal and recycling companies as well as consulting and planning companies (CCI database UMFIS) • CCI recycling exchange with offers/enquiries on residual materials • Advice on the transport of dangerous goods • Recognition of courses and conducting of examinations for dangerous goods drivers and dangerous goods safety advisers, issuance of corresponding certificates • Advice on occupational health and safety and fire protection, as well as the securing of loads • Workshops and brochures on energy and environmental themes, dangerous goods and occupational health and safety, as well as fire protection

the one side was a scenario which assumed an increasing global demand for oil and gas and outlined the possibilities of fracking when using the country‘s own gas supplies. This was contrasted with the potentials of unconventional energy sources. One further topic was the potential savings that are possible through energy efficiency measures.

CCI information on amended regulations governing the transport of dangerous goods New regulations governing the transport of dangerous goods came into force at the beginning of 2015. Smaller companies in particular are overwhelmed in many cases due to the number and complexity of the regulations. At the end of April the CCI is providing tips on the practical implementation of the current dangerous goods regulations at an event which it is organising. At the Stuttgart Dangerous Goods Day in October 2015, all parties involved in the transport of dangerous goods can inform themselves extensively about this topic at specialist presentations or the accompanying exhibition. CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

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Photo: A. Raths Photo: Fotolia, Thinkstock

Legal and Taxes

The CCI is in favour of a higher proportion of women in managerial positions, but doubts that a legal quota is the right way forward.

Economic activities of local authorities: statutory amendment averted The commitment of the CCI against an increase in economic activities on the part of local authorities has been successful. The prevalence of the private sector before the state should be the basis of local authority action. After the plans of the state government to change local authority economic law had been made known, the CCI had vehemently opposed the measure and was able to ensure by means of discussions with various decision-makers that the planned changes would be abandoned. Local authorities should be given more room for manoeuvre with respect to economic activities by relaxing the subsidiarity clause. Up to now, local authorities have been restricted by tight statutory limits in this respect. This restriction to cases of public services and certain specific fields of activity is meaningful: it means that local authorities may not directly compete economically with companies.

More women in managerial positions The increase in the proportion of women in the managerial bodies of companies is an important concern of business for which the CCI has been campaigning for years. A legal quota, such as the women‘s quota of 30 per cent on the Supervisory Board of companies which are listed on the stock exchange and at the same time subject to compulsory co-determination rights, is however viewed critically by the CCI. On the one hand this specification would do nothing to change existing career hurdles, such as the lack of reconciliation of family and career. Furthermore, it does not take into account the fact that the number of qualified women fluctuates strongly bet-

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ween various sectors. The regulations, which are to be implemented from 2016 on, also water down the basic principles of company law, for example the right of shareholders to freely select their supervisory body.

District Chamber cooperating with Südwestmetall in the field of employment law for companies The Göppingen District Chamber of the CCI entered into a long-term cooperation with the Südwestmetall employers‘ association in 2014. The cooperation was launched by a joint event on the topic of the deployment of third-party personnel within companies. The joint series of events about employment law will be continued in 2015.

Commitment to more contractual freedom The CCI for the Stuttgart Region is actively committed to a reform of the law governing General Terms and Conditions. The aim is to regain more contractual freedom in companies‘ business transactions – but not at the expense of small businesses. For this purpose, the CCI for the Stuttgart Region has been supporting a nationwide survey of companies by the University of Osnabrück, which was carried out as part of a study commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Justice on “Monitoring of General Terms and Conditions in business dealings“. In the past the CCI for the Stuttgart Region had already developed a specific reform proposal together with companies and submitted it to the Federal Ministry of Justice for BadenWürttemberg. The CCI will be overseeing further reform considerations in the interests of its member companies.

Photo: Thinkstock

The expert knowledge of authorised experts is required in many areas – including the appraisal of industrial plants. The CCI appoints and places such authorised experts under an oath and arranges their services when requested to do so by courts and companies.

Exchange of experiences at the 2014 Congress of Experts The topics of expert opinions for court cases and marketing for authorised experts were the focus of the 2014 Stuttgart Congress of Experts, in which publicly appointed and sworn experts, judges and the CCI employees responsible for the field of expert reports participated. The annual Congress of Experts organised by the CCI also serves the purpose of enabling the participants to exchange experiences. One important task of the CCIs is to provide its member companies as well as courts, authorities and the public with experts who are particularly knowledgeable in their specific field. In 2014 eight new authorised experts were publicly appointed and sworn in in the Rems-Murr District Chamber, which oversees the field of expert reports for the CCI for the Stuttgart Region. There are 260 experts who have been publicly appointed and sworn in by the CCI in the Stuttgart Region in total, who can also be searched for in the nationwide register of authorised experts at www.svv.ihk.de.

What the CCI does Services in the business field of legal and taxes: • Legal information, especially on trade and competition law, commercial, contract, company, firm and tax law, European law, data protection law, industrial property protection and labour law • Point of single contact within the meaning of the EC Services Directive • Seminars and brochures on legal and fiscal questions • Official opinions in conjunction with legislative procedures • Official opinions on Commercial Register entries • Official opinions in judicial insolvency plan processes • Appointment of emergency Managing Directors and emergency liquidators • Extrajudicial settlement of disputes: arbitration committee for the settlement of competition disputes, arbitration body for commercial disputes, CCI arbitration court regulations • Appointment and swearing-in of authorised experts, CCI directory of authorised experts on the Internet at www.svv.ihk.de

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Business Start-ups and Enterprise Support What the CCI does Services in the field of business start-ups and succession: • Information, advice and events on questions of setting up business, corporate governance and succession, brochures and checklists • Founders Days throughout the region, participation in the Germany Founders Week, Succession Days

• Official opinions on the viability of setting up business for the start-up subsidy • Official opinions on activities which require a permit • Statement to the Aliens Authority upon the approval of applicants from non-EU countries (applications from foreigners)

• Networking events for those starting their own business and young entrepreneurs

• Consulting as a regional partner of KfW (German governmentowned development bank) for “Business founder coaching Germany“ (GCD)

• Analyses and studies on business establishment and succession events in the region

• Mediation of offers and requests for corporate succession through nexxt-change

Business Start-ups and Succession CCI – Partner in “Elevator Pitch BW“ The state-wide competition known as “Elevator Pitch BW“ offers those starting a new business an attractive platform to present themselves and their business idea to a distinguished jury and an audience consisting of regional institutions, potential investors, business partners and customers. The CCI and its District Chambers are also involved in the preliminary rounds, the so-called “Regional Cups“, in the Stuttgart Region. As part of the 2013/2014 competition, a preliminary round was held in March 2014 at the “Stuttgart Business Start-up Lounge“. At this joint event of the CCI, the Ministry of Finance and Economics, the City of Stuttgart, the Chamber of Crafts for the Stuttgart Region, the Council for Economic Development for the Stuttgart Region and Stuttgart Media University, ten business founders presented their business idea in three minutes each. In April a “Regional Cup“ was held at the Göppingen District Chamber of the CCI, to which 20 business founders had applied. For the 2014/2015 competition, preliminary rounds were held in Nürtingen and Böblingen, in which the respective District Chambers participated. The winners of the local pitch competitions are given the opportunity to present their business idea at the state final in the summer of 2015, when they can also win prize money.

Networks for young entrepreneurs of the CCI and young entrepreneurs Founders of new businesses, those interested in starting new businesses and young entrepreneurs are the target groups when the CCI and the Wirtschaftsjunioren Stuttgart e. V.

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(German association of young leaders and entrepreneurs) invite them every two months to the “Young Business Network“ event held at the Stuttgart CCI Centre. After a keynote presentation, the participants have the opportunity to present both themselves and their business idea and establish business contacts. In addition, there is enough time left over for an exchange of experiences. With the “Intelligent control of innovations“ event in November 2014, the network took part in the nationwide CCI Day of Action “Stir up the market with new ideas“. Similar concepts are offered by the Böblingen and Rems-Murr District Chambers together with their local groups of young entrepreneurs. Founders of new businesses and young entrepreneurs can exchange views and information about their problems and experiences with like-minded people in a relaxed atmosphere, present their business idea and get to know the existing networks in the administrative districts. At the RemsMurr District Chamber the series of events is known as “Feuerstarter“ and in Böblingen “ZUKUNFTunternehmen“.

Corporate succession in the region analysed On behalf of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region, the Tübingen Institute for Applied Economic Research (IAW) has analysed the issue of corporate succession in the Stuttgart Region. The study provides not only insights into the peculiarities of the region in terms of business successors, but also presents the mediumterm challenges, future prospects and opportunities for action. Detailed results will be presented in the summer of 2015 at the Stuttgart Corporate Succession Day. Although previous studies have examined this topic at the level of the overall economy or individual businesses throughout Germany, the regional view has so far received little attention.

Photo: Kiesel

Numerous handovers within family businesses – as for example at the firm Kiesel Bauchemie & Co. KG in Esslingen from father Wolfgang Kiesel to daughter Beatrice Kiesel-Luik – will be taking place in the next few years in the region. The CCI is expanding its range of offers in this field.

New Corporate Succession Alliance in Esslingen In November 2014 the new Corporate Succession Alliance was launched in Esslingen by the CCI District Chamber, the Craftsmen‘s Association, the District Office, the Kreissparkasse and Volksbank, as well as eight local authorities in the district. In view of the increasing need for advice on corporate succession, the Alliance intends to provide a permanent range of individual counselling services supplemented by information on the Internet at www.nachfolgen-es.de. The EsslingenNürtingen District Chamber, which initiated the Alliance, acts as a neutral focal point for companies and potential successors. In March 2015 it held the event “Corporate succession with heart, hand and mind“, which examined the practical, financial and emotional aspects of the transfer and takeover of companies.

What the CCI does Services in the field of finance and funding: • Information and advice on capital needs assessment, financing, subsidy opportunities and rating • Information events on corporate financing • Brochures for the financial promotion of trade and industry • Official opinions on credit and guarantee applications to public banks • Promotion of cooperations between companies through the CCI cooperation exchange • Regional partner of the KfW for the “Round Table” and “Turn-Around Consulting” for the support of companies during crisis • Information in the field of white-collar crime and protection

Finance and Funding

CCI and Chamber of Crafts for the Stuttgart Region had more than 130 participants.

CCI offers on the topic of financing well in demand

Business success with social and environmental responsibility

The CCI and its District Chambers offer financing consultation days throughout the Stuttgart Region with representatives of L-Bank and Bürgschaftsbank. Here, the member companies have the opportunity to put their prospects of success to the test with respect to any funding request before the actual talks with the bank. In 2014, 78 companies took advantage of this opportunity during a personal consultation.

Four successful women from various industries with very different biographies reported on their “Business success with social and environmental responsibility“ at the CCI Centre in Esslingen. This was the motto of the Women in the Economy Days, to which invitations had been sent out by the CCI District Chamber, the Equal Opportunities Officers from Esslingen University, as well as the towns of Esslingen and Filderstadt in October 2014. The speakers came from the fields of waste avoidance and recycling, climate protection, ecological agriculture and natural cosmetics and have in some cases won prizes for their ideas and commitment.

Alternatives to the traditional bank loan and financing strategies during periods of low interest were presented in May 2014 at the Stuttgart Chamber of Crafts. The joint event held by the

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Photo: Rems-Murr-Kliniken

In the invitations to tender for major projects such as the building of the new Rems-Murr Clinic in Winnenden, which was moved into last year, small and medium-sized enterprises must also be given the chance to win a contract.

Contract Advisory Agency New calculation tool for partial lots Public contracting authorities are obliged to take into account the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises when awarding public contracts. For this reason they have to divide up the services and award them in so-called partial lots. In practice, however, this obligation to divide up lots frequently causes problems. The CCI Contract Advisory Agency in BadenWürttemberg has now made a partial lot calculator available on its website. The calculation tool enables awarding authorities to determine on a sector or trade basis which lot sizes would be ideal from the point of view of protecting SMEs. The basis for this is an expert report drawn up on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) under the auspices of the Contract Advisory Agencies in the states of Hesse and Brandenburg.

EU sets the ball rolling for the reform of German Public Procurement Law The new EU procurement directives have set the ball rolling for the largest reform in German Public Procurement Law since 2004. These were the focus of the 13th Symposium of the CCI Contract Advisory Agency in 2014. Around 250 representatives of companies and awarding authorities were able to inform themselves about the latest developments in the Public Procurement Law of the EU, the Federal Government and the state of Baden-Württemberg, as well as all aspects of E-procurement.

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What the CCI does Services of the CCI Baden-Württemberg Contract Advisory Agency: • Information and advice on public procurement, seminars and brochures on public procurement law • Prequalification in the supply and service field • Free registration of companies in the bidder’s database and additional nominations in the case of restricted invitations to tender • CCI invitation to tender search service • Involvement in procurement review processes • Official opinions on legislative procedures • Official opinions on applications for NATO contracts

The next symposium in November 2015 will again be dealing with the new EU Directives and their implementation. It has been found that the strategic reform objectives – whereby small and medium-sized enterprises in particular should have greater opportunities in the competition in the future – are not easy to harmonise with the goal of economic procurement.

Branches of Industry Manufacturing Industry and Transport

Which drive technology will dominate the future and how car-sharing concepts will change the urban mobility of tomorrow was the subject of a talk given by the Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, at the Stuttgart CCI Centre to more than 500 guests as part of the transport policy New Year‘s reception of the CCI. In response to a question posed by Professor Tobias Bernecker of Heilbronn University, Zetsche explained the potentials that he sees in networking vehicles with each other and with the transport infrastructure. For example, cars could warn one another in the future about traffic jams and accidents.

Recommendations for action for inner-city logistics formulated The Stuttgart Working Group for Inner-city Logistics, which was founded last year and in which the CCI is involved, has submitted constructive proposals for improving supply and disposal methods in inner cities. These were drawn up in three working groups of entrepreneurs, employees of associations and other institutions with the participation of the municipal administration. Of central importance for improving city centre logistics is the availability of high-quality and reliable information on the current and future traffic situation in Stuttgart. The Working Group also recommends a review of the rules for the delivery time windows in Stuttgart‘s pedestrian zone, which were introduced in the 1970s. Optimisations might contribute towards easing supply flows and reducing the number of vehicles used. Potential improvements were also identified with respect to the securing and designation of specific areas for logistical supply and disposal methods during events. Particular attention should be paid in the case of inner-city logistics to the so-called “last mile“, above all with respect to alternative delivery concepts such as delivery on foot, freight bicycles or open system parcel boxes. In order to find out which requirements have to be placed on such concepts, the CCI has commissioned a study. The Working Group for Innercity Logistics will be presenting its findings to the Municipal Committee for Environment and Technology (UTA). .

Photo: Kuhnle

Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche at the CCI for the reinvention of the automobile

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chief Executive Officer of Daimler AG, outlined the route to the driverless car at the CCI.

What the CCI does Services for manufacturing industry: • Information on innovation, technology, the environment and transport • Advice on quality management and CE marking • Information and advice on the demarcation between manufacturing industry and skilled crafts and trades, as well as licensing requirements under trade law Services for the transport companies: • Information on questions of road haulage, passenger and other transport, as well as the topic of the transport of dangerous goods • Performance of examinations for businesses working in the field of road passenger transport and road haulage • Information on licensing requirements in the case of international transport, the securing of loads and social legislation in the field of transport • Performance of examinations for lorry and bus drivers according to professional driver qualification law

CCI analysing transport connection of job locations and industrial estates The CCI is currently having the accessibility of 48 selected industrial estates and locations where there is a high density of jobs in the region analysed by the Institute for Road and Transport Science at the University of Stuttgart. The results of the study are to be submitted in the autumn of 2015. Good accessibility to the company‘s location by both individual and public transport is a key location factor for many companies. One indicator is how many employed individuals can reach an industrial estate or location with a high densiCCI Annual Report 14 | 15

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Photo: ECE, Milaneo, Stuttgart

Large number of visitors at the opening of the Milaneo – in the autumn the CCI examines the perspectives for the retail trade in Stuttgart after two large shopping centres had opened in 2014 in the form of Milaneo and Gerber.

ty of jobs by car and public transport within specified travel times and whether this situation will tend to improve or deteriorate in the coming years.

Range of services for the securing of loads expanded Due to the sharp increase in the need for information on the subject of the securing of loads on vehicles, the CCI has expanded its range of services. Its brochure “The 1 x 1 of load securing“ was supplemented and updated in 2014. It explains the responsibilities under civil, criminal and public law. The guide provides numerous practical tips on how critical situations can be avoided and which precautions can be taken by companies. In 2015 the CCI will be bringing out a supplementary brochure on the practical implementation of the securing of loads. Additionally, there will be events for the personnel who not only perform the actual loading process, but also those responsible at the company.

Trade New: overview of Sunday shopping On its website the CCI for the Stuttgart Region now provides an overview of the dates of the Sundays on which the shops are open in the 179 municipalities in the region. With the list, which is broken down according to dates and locations and which up to now has not been available to such an extent, the CCI is supporting retail outlets with the medium-term planning of their opening times.

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Sundays on which the shops are open bring life to the inner cities and are an important marketing instrument for the commercial businesses in the municipalities. In view of the strong competition from the Internet trade and the steadily growing sales areas in the region, the cooperation and the coordination of opening times in the respective locations is becoming increasingly important for retailers.

Focus on retail trade In June 2015 the retail trade is the focus of a large-scale event organised by the CCI. The topics range from the digitisation of commerce, through the recipes for success of regional retailers, strong-selling and customer-oriented employees, direct marketing and website optimisation, to the shop window of the future. The forum at the Stuttgart CCI Centre offers retailers the opportunity to discuss with experts and exchange views and ideas with others. At the beginning of May the topic of “inner-city development yesterday and tomorrow – perspectives for the retail trade“ is on the agenda. In October 2015 the CCI is planning a panel discussion during which the perspectives for the retail trade in Stuttgart one year after the opening of the Milaneo and Gerber shopping centres will be examined. Furthermore, the CCI is offering a broad range of specialist events on subjects such as company management, security in the retail trade, new media, sales promotion, the minimum wage and procurement. The workshops are specifically tailored to the requirements of small and medium-sized commercial enterprises.

What the CCI does Services for the trade: • Commitment to attractive and vibrant town centres, commitment to fair competition Photo: Photo:Thinkstock Ed. Züblin AG /Tom Philippi

• Information and advice on questions of the wholesale and retail trade, as well as commercial agencies • Verification of the authorisation to operate mobile sales outlets and auctions • Involvement in the arrangement of trade fairs, exhibitions and markets (special, annual and weekly markets) • Check of the expertise in the retail trade in over-the-counter pharmaceutical products and the trade in firearms The Trade Committee of the CCI has sought inspiration and ideas from Milan, where the new “Porta Nuova“ quarter is being constructed.

Accessibility and parking spaces important for inner-city trade For inner-city trade, good accessibility also for individual transport and sufficient parking opportunities at acceptable prices are of key importance. According to the results of a customer survey, this is one of the plus points of BietigheimBissingen which contributed to the title of “top performer“ of the location in its size category. The survey was carried out as part of the nationwide study “Vital inner cities 2014“. The town of Bietigheim-Bissingen and the Town Centre Advertising Community of Active Entrepreneurs in Bietigheim-Bissingen received support in this from the Ludwigsburg District Chamber. The town of Ludwigsburg is currently discussing the abolition of around 140 very well frequented above-ground parking spaces in the town centre. This is criticised by the Ludwigsburg District Chamber.

New law to improve locational quality in urban districts At the beginning of January 2015 the “Act to strengthen the development of urban districts by private initiatives (GQP)“ entered into force. The CCI was involved in this process, drawing up a paper on the key issues and campaigning for a business-friendly implementation of the bill. The Act provides the basis for the establishment of so-called Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in Baden-Württemberg.

for this purpose. In order to do so, retailers, restaurateurs and service providers join forces, in some cases with the participation of the local authority, in a special form of public-private partnership (PPP) which goes beyond a voluntary association. In the spring the CCI will be publishing a guideline, with the help of which interested municipalities can give consideration to local projects.

Attractive inner cities – inspiration from Milan The Trade Committee of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region undertook an excursion to Milan in the spring of 2015 with the aim of receiving new stimuli for its own corporate strategy. The itinerary included a visit to the German-Italian Chamber of Commerce in Milan, an urban development tour of the newly designed “Porta Nuova“ quarter, a new concept in the food trade and various inner-city retail concepts.

Sales professionals preparing for the competition “Strong Partners“ was the motto of the Stuttgart Marketing Day 2014 of the CCI and Baden-Württemberg Association for Commercial Agents and Distribution (CDH), where over 120 self-employed sales professionals were able to find information from the region concerning important topics of their everyday working lives. General legal questions in marketing and considerations of communication in the future, as well as tax law issues or advertising design were on the varied agenda, which ended with tips on appropriate business attire.

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berg. Both the one-and-half-day workshop “Qualification as a Service Adviser“ in the autumn of 2014 and the CCI Entrepreneurs Evening in November, at which the results of the transfer initiative were presented, were a complete success.

Photo: Thinkstock

Insurance industry informs on challenges related to provision for retirement

Advice and products for private retirement provisions were the focus of the Stuttgart Insurance Day 2014.

What the CCI does Services for the service and tourism industry: • Information and advice on issues of the service and tourism industry • Promotion of outsourcing and cooperation between service companies • Training for the catering industry • Training and examinations to test the expertise of companies providing security services • Information on issues associated with the approval and registration procedure for insurance agents and advisers, as well as financial investment brokers, issue of permits • Registration in the nationwide register of intermediaries • Implementation of examinations to test the level of expertise in the insurance and financial investment business

Services Development of new services by SMEs How new services are developed and how this can be accomplished by small and medium-sized enterprises in particular was the focus of the series of events under the title “Transfer Initiative – Success with New Services“ with experts from the Institute for Technology in Business Management at the German Crafts Institute (itb) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO. The events were supported by the CCI for the Stuttgart Region. The findings were summarised at the initiative of the CCI Services Committee in a short guideline. The brochure “Service Engineering – in five steps to the new service“ can be obtained free of charge from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs of the State of Baden-Württem-

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Amendments to framework legal conditions, demographic changes and the continuing phase of low interest rates are presenting major challenges to the insurance industry with respect to the development of products for private retirement provisions. At the beginning of March 2015 around 300 industry professionals attending the 7th Stuttgart Insurance Day learned how the insurance industry and politicians are structuring private retirement provisions, what form the latest products take and how they might be placed on the market. The CCI for the Stuttgart Region organises this industrial event every year – together with the Federal Association of German Insurance Representatives (BVK), the German Insurance Association for Vocational Education and Training in Württemberg (BWV), the Federal Association of German Insurance Executives (VGA), as well as Stuttgart Financial and the Association of German Insurance Brokers (VDVM).

Financial investment brokers must submit test reports – CCI reminder of submission deadline Since January 2012 the CCI for the Stuttgart Region has been issuing the licence for financial investment brokers – and performing this public service task much more cheaply than the trade authorities in other German federal states. At the end of 2014 the licence holders had to fulfill the legally prescribed obligation for the first time of having their work from the previous year appraised by a suitable examiner and submitting the report to the CCI. If they fail to do so, the regulatory agencies can impose a fine. In order to avoid this, the CCI informed the approximately 1,700 licence holders in the region in detail and well in advance of the submission deadline. Since August 2014 the CCI for the Stuttgart Region has also taken over the task of the competent licensing authority for the honorary financial investment adviser recently introduced into the Industrial Code.

Survey of rents: offices in city centre locations the latest trend Office space in the region of Stuttgart remains much soughtafter. In readily accessible and representative locations, top

Photo:VVS Citygate Photo:

Office space in the town or city centre is very popular and good locations have their price. The current CCI survey of rents gives landlords and tenants an indication of realistic office rents in the Stuttgart Region.

rents of more than 17 euros – excluding ancillary costs – are paid per square metre. In less preferred locations the rents are approximately half of this. This is shown by the survey of office rents in 2014 conducted by the CCI for the Stuttgart Region among almost 600 companies. Offices which are particularly attractive are those located directly in the town or city centre or near the airport. On average the rent for a square metre of office space in the region is 9.50 euros net – four per cent more than three years ago. Depending on the location and condition of the buildings, the rents vary considerably in some cases. The average rent in the urban district of Stuttgart is highest, followed by the administrative districts of Böblingen, Ludwigsburg, Rems-Murr, Esslingen and Göppingen. Compared to the other top locations in Germany – Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich – Stuttgart is subject to the fewest price fluctuations, however, and is the location with the lowest level of rents, but also the lowest vacancy rate for office space.

Investment in real estate – boom or bubble? Around 300 industry professionals came to the CCI Real Estate Day in Stuttgart in the autumn of 2014 to find out more about important questions concerning investments in real estate. On the one hand the question was examined as to whether and to what extent residential properties in conurbations are overvalued – especially in the current period of a lack of investment alternatives. On the other hand the topic was discussed of how legal requirements such as the rent brake, the principle that estate agents can only charge the ordering party (and no longer both the tenant and landlord when mediating between them) or the taxing of energy-efficient buildings are proving an impediment to the real estate industry and preventing

urgently required investments in buildings and infrastructure. The CCI Real Estate Day in Stuttgart is a joint initiative of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, RealFM and the Stuttgart Association of the Real Estate Industry (IWS).

Tourism Development of tourism in the district of Göppingen progressing The new concept for the development of tourism in the district of Göppingen is being successfully implemented. This has been made possible by the reorganisation of the two tourist associations and the participation of the Göppingen District Chamber, which effectively supports its member companies from the tourist industry. The District Chamber will continue to provide assistance this year in bringing together interested tourism businesses with local authorities and associations in order to develop and market joint offers.

Meeting of experts on tourism marketing “A picture is worth a thousand words“ – this ancient wisdom of advertising industry is particularly true in the field of tourism marketing. Films and pictures have a considerable influence on the image of towns, cities and entire regions and often affect travel decisions. At an event organised by the CCI in the autumn of 2014 together with the Stuttgart Marketing GmbH and the Film Commission of the Stuttgart Region, experts explained the benefits of images and films for successful tourism marketing, specifically addressing the Stuttgart Region. CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

37

Photo: Stampe

Photo: Kuhnle

CCI as a Meeting Point

Heinrich Haasis receiving the MERKUR 2014 from CCI President Georg Fichtner.

EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger discussed European policy issues at the Böblingen District Chamber.

Highest CCI award for Heinrich Haasis

Discussion forums in the region

For his services to business in Baden-Württemberg, Germany and Europe, the CCI for the Stuttgart Region has awarded the former President of the German Savings Banks Association Heinrich Haasis with the MERKUR prize. In numerous offices in politics and business, Haasis worked continuously towards improving the framework conditions for citizens and companies. Furthermore, he undertook successful attempts to obtain the “Sparkassen“ (“Savings Banks“) brand within the European banking system.

The CCI and its District Chambers offer forums throughout the region to discuss a wide range of economic and socio-political issues. For example, in February Prof. Andreas Barner, President of the Evangelical Church Congress 2015 and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Boehringer Ingelheim, went into the relations between the Church and business, the impacts they have on everyday life at a family-owned business and the associated ethical questions. Also in February 2015, points of contact between sport and business were the topic at an event with Olympic swimming gold medallist and world champion Dr. Michael Groß.

Change of staff at the Böblingen District Chamber The new Chief Executive Officer of the Böblingen District Chamber is Marion Oker. The 39-year-old graduate economist is the successor to Walter Kübler, who retired after being at the helm of the District Chamber for six years. At the handover ceremony in January 2015 there were around 130 guests present from politics, business and society. CCI District Chamber President Andreas Hadler emphasised the merits and strong commitment of the retiring Chief Executive Officer Walter Kübler during his 35-year tenure at the CCI for the Stuttgart Region. The new head of the District Chamber wants to introduce new ideas on the issues of securing skilled workers and strengthening the dual vocational education and training system, the supply of broadband on industrial estates and the digital economy, as well as corporate succession and strengthening the retail trade.

38 CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

At the “Business Podium“ of the Ludwigsburg District Chamber, Andreas J. Povel, General Manager of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, discussed the opportunities and challenges of the free trade agreement with the USA. Within the framework of a joint event with the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), the Göppingen District Chamber examined the questions of the success of the energy revolution and the consequences for companies. In June 2014 the Rems-Murr District Chamber had two State Ministers as its guests. At the beginning of June it organised a discussion session with the Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs Andreas Stoch on the challenges for education policy, while at the end of June the Minister for Employment and Social Affairs Katrin Altpeter examined the potentials of the labour force on the employment market. In October 2014, EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger discussed European economic and energy policy at the Böblingen District Chamber.

Photo: Kuhnle

The new CCI Headquarters in Stuttgart met with great interest among the invited representatives from business, politics and society at the CCI Summer Reception 2014. This was held on the day of the official inauguration of the new building.

In Esslingen the local young entrepreneurs, who celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2014, organised events on the topics of energy policy, business opportunities in Asia and corporate succession by daughters.

Inauguration of the new building at the traditional summer reception of the CCI The CCI held its summer reception on the day of the inauguration of the new CCI building in Stuttgart (see also page 51). Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann, the Mayor of Stuttgart Fritz Kuhn and the President of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) Eric Schweitzer welcomed the CCI to its new building on the old site. Eric Gauthier and his ensemble delighted the approximately 1,000 guests with their dance performances. The invited representatives from business and politics were able to learn more about the new CCI building and CCI offers as well as exchange views on current economic issues.

VIPs at District Chamber receptions Prominent speakers from politics, science and business gave talks at the New Year‘s receptions of the District Chambers in January 2015. The guest speaker at the New Year‘s reception of the Rems-Murr District Chamber at the community centre in Backnang was Günther Oettinger, EU Commissioner for the Digital Economy. At the reception of the Esslingen-Nürtingen District Chamber, Dr. Reiner Klingholz from the Berlin Institute for Population and Development discussed the consequences of the demographic development in Germany. In Ludwigsburg, Dr. Volkmar Denner, the Chief Executive Officer of Robert Bosch GmbH, spoke about “Industry 4.0“. At the traditional annual reception of the Göppingen District Chamber in June 2014, Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs Andreas Stoch discussed the opportunities open to young people when making the transition from school to work. In the middle of April 2015 the Böblingen District Chamber is holding its fourth spring reception. The guest speaker is Prof. Dr. Christoph M. Schmidt, President of the Rhine-Westphalia Institute for Economic Research and Chairman of the German Council of Economic Experts.

CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

39

Financial Data 2014 Annual Financial Statements In the 2014 business year the CCI can look back on pleasing financial developments for its members. It was possible to implement the reduction in current contribution charges for the members by ten per cent in accordance with the resolution adopted by the Plenary Assembly in the spring of 2013 at the request of the Steering Committee. Contrary to expectations, the reserve that had been allocated in order to safeguard the loss of income – associated with the amount reserved to assist members with their contributions and fees – did not have to be used. The business developments in 2014 were so positive overall that instead of the forecast deficit, it was possible to achieve even a slight profit of around 65,000 euros. The continuing positive economic conditions, the education and training activities of the companies and their employees and the renewed good climate with respect to exports were the decisive factors in the fact that earnings exceeded the planned levels. That the reconstruction of the CCI headquarters has remained within budget up to now is also one of the positive factors from 2014, in addition to the conclusion of the lengthy contract negotiations with the German Railways (Deutsche Bahn) on the sale of the Volkart Building (the so-called R Building) with part of the land. The sale also resulted in effects recognised in income.

Only the second shadow budget of the CCI – the CCI Training House – was not able to meet expectations. The development in turnover continued to fall short of the plan estimates. The consequence is another annual loss of around 63,000 euros. The demand for the further training offers is usually countercyclical to the general economy, as companies and employees do not Dr. Heinz-Werner Schulte consider there to be much Chairman of the scope for further training CCI Budget Committee measures in phases when the economy is strong. The CCI Training House has ensured financial security for the resulting fluctuations by the formation of reserves and profits carried forward. Nevertheless, it is necessary to continue pushing forward with the efforts to develop new products and innovative measures which are in line with requirements. In order to secure the future of the Training House, it is also necessary to develop it into a centre of excellence for multimedia learning. With this approach, the Training House is on the right track.

Negative effects resulted for the budgets of the CCI from the difficult situation on the financial markets. The low interest rates further depressed the actuarial interest rate to be used for the calculation of provisions. The development in interest rates is so serious that even the worst-case scenarios of renowned actuarial experts have not been reached. The debts resulting from this development are not only a challenge for the CCI, but for all companies. The Plenary Assembly of the CCI is very conscious of its responsibility with respect to safeguarding the obligations associated with the retirement pension commitments and has ensured financial security with the allocation of the reserve for safeguarding the interest change risk from pension provisions with the annual financial statements for 2013 and again in conjunction with the 2014 statements.

With the issue of the unqualified audit opinion, the audit of the annual financial statements by the independent auditing office for CCIs has confirmed that the economic management carried out by the CCI is both appropriate and prudent. The honorary auditors of the CCI confirmed the assessment of the auditing office. These are – like the entire Budget Committee of the CCI – critical and competent advisers to the management on all financial issues. For the honorary position and the bodies of the CCI, the Budget Committee is an indispensable and reliable partner and a guarantor of the economical and proper handling of the financial resources of the member companies. I would therefore like to thank the members of the Budget Committee and the honorary auditors Michael Beck and Hans Heinzmann most sincerely at this point for their dedication and support.

The shadow budget of the CCI – the PAL – also recorded a pleasing result. An annual profit of almost 700,000 euros and a profit carried forward mean that it is also possible in the shadow budget to ensure financial security for the obligations from the retirement pension commitments and at the same time keep the prices for the customers of PAL stable.

40 CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

Balance Sheet of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region Assets Dec 31, 2014 in euros

Dec 31, 2013 in euros

94,379,202.33

87,556,114.38

Intangible assets

321,367.00

295,320.00

Purchased concessions, industrial property rights and similar rights and assets, as well as licenses to such rights and assets

321,367.00

295,320.00

Fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets

61,683,625.71

45,490,680.60

Land, buildings Technical equipment and machinery Other plant, factory and office equipment Payments on account and construction in progress

56,880,713.83 503,908.00 2,571,291.00 1,727,712.88

25,584,534.00 176,937.00 1,252,739.00 18,476,470.60

Financial assets

32,374,209.62

41,770,113.78

Investment securities Other loans and reinsurance claims

24,087,991.15 8,286,218.47

33,887,991.15 7,882,122.63

45,122,732.88

41,926,556.82

Inventories

163,215.16

172,403.11

Raw materials and supplies Finished goods and goods for resale Advance payments to suppliers

55,207.06 19,613.31 88,394.79

47,120.63 25,381.59 99,900.89

Receivables and other assets

8,833,016.84

6,469,606.10

Receivables from contributions, charges, fees and other supplies and services Receivables from affiliated companies Other assets

8,016,302.81 73,250.39 743,463.64

5,616,717.40 45,713.19 807,175.51

0.00

0.00

36,126,500.88

35,284,547.61

195,606.00

77,937.50

0.00

0.00

139,697,541.21

129,560,608.70

Dec 31, 2014 in euros

Dec 31, 2013 in euros

Current assets

Securities Cash, central bank balances, bank balances and cheques Deferred charges Active difference from the capital account

Liabilities Equity

42,894,792.39

42,131,285.94

Net position Compensation reserve Other reserves of which: construction reserves of which: reserve to safeguard the reduction in contributions and charges of which: reserve to safeguard the interest rate risk from pension provisions Result

12,000,000.00 21,430,733.71 9,099,348.31 1,156,661.45 2,631,835.21 5,310,851.65 364,710.37

12,000,000.00 21,430,733.71 4,095,139.20 1,156,661.45 245,690.54 2,692,787.21 4,605,413.03

Provisions

91,369,118.00

82,307,470.00

Provisions for pensions and similar obligations Tax provisions Other provisions

81,032,101.00 421,800.00 9,915,217.00

75,877,928.00 422,750.00 6,006,792.00

Liabilities

1,956,838.69

2,897,428.20

0.00 713,070.03 3,625.25 1,240,143.41

1,242.03 1,346,498.18 3,689.38 1,545,998.61

3,476,792.13

2,224,424.56

139,697,541.21

129,560,608.70

Liabilities to banks Trade accounts payable Amounts owed to group undertakings Other liabilities Deferred revenue

CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

41

Financial Data Notes

Other plant, factory and office equipment

Explanations of the Balance Sheet in 2014 of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region

This item consists of the following, amongst others:

Principles for the preparation of the annual financial statements For the accounting, including the annual financial statements, section 3, paragraph 7a of the IHKG stipulates that the principles of commercial accounting and bookkeeping are to be applied in an analogous manner to the Third Book of the German Commercial Code (HGB) in the latest version in each case. Further details are laid down by statute, taking into account the principles of state budget law. The CCI for the Stuttgart Region carries out its accounting on the basis of the financial statute adopted by the Plenary Assembly, as well as the associated directives issued by the President and Chief Executive. The rules and remarks contained in the financial statute fundamentally follow the accounting standards applicable to all merchants (sections 238 to 263 HGB), taking into consideration the assignment and organisation of the CCIs and their integration into public budget law.

Euros Vehicle fleet Office machines, organisational agents, computer equipment Office furniture, other factory and office equipment

57,364 626,783 1,640,129

Payments on account and construction in progress The Plenary Assembly of the CCI decided in December 2009 to build a new CCI headquarters in Stuttgart. A budget of 39.5 million euros was approved, plus an inflation supplement based on the building costs index. The approved budget is therefore 42.5 million euros. Execution of the building project was started in 2010, with the building being completed by the beginning of the second half of 2014. At the balance sheet date it is assumed that the approved budget was adhered to. The final settlement of the construction project is not expected until 2016 at the earliest due to legal disputes.

Investment securities For the main budget (CCI in Stuttgart and district chambers) and the Examination Questions and Training Materials Development Centre PAL (Prüfungsaufgaben- und Lehrmittelentwicklungsstelle) separate economic plans were drawn up, with this also applying to the accounting. The balance sheet includes both budgets.

Intangible assets and licences The intangible assets consist of various software licences, valued at the acquisition costs and taking into account straightline de-preciation.

Land, buildings The real estate of the CCI was appraised by experts as part of the preparation of the opening balance as of January 1, 2003. The volume of the real estate as of the balance sheet date is 56,880,714 euros. The buildings are depreciated pro rata temporis using the straight-line method over the remaining useful life.

Technical equipment and machinery This position relates in particular to air conditioning units, monitoring equipment, time recording devices, the audio system and the photovoltaic system of the new CCI headquarters building.

42 CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

The valuation of the assets was carried out at the acquisition costs in accordance with section 253 (2) of the German Commercial Code (HGB). As a corporation under public law, the CCI is subject to strict investment regulations. According to these, the investment should take the form of fixed-term deposits or fixed-interest securities with a high safety rating. Investments are not held for speculative purposes in accordance with the investment regulations applicable to the CCI. Portfolio management has been outsourced on the basis of the decision taken by the Budget Committee of the CCI. Following a decision of the Executive Committee and Budget Committee, a special fund was set up as of July 1, 2007 for the CCI for the Stuttgart Region, which serves the purpose of providing financial backing for the obligations associated with the retirement pension scheme. The special fund is valued at the acquisition costs and reported with a volume of 20,000,030 euros under this item. The fund is developing positively. As of the effective date of December 31, 2014, the fund’s assets amounted to 24,394,238 euros. The increase in the fund’s volume results from retained interest income and the performance of the fund.

Receivables from contributions, charges, fees and other supplies and services

Other loans and reinsurance claims The valuation of the shares is carried out at the nominal values. The important loans are: Euros Stuttgarter Messe- und Kongress GmbH, silent partnership Stuttgarter Messe- und Kongress GmbH, profit-sharing IHK Gesellschaft für Informationsverarbeitung mbH Kreditgarantiegemeinschaft der Industrie, des Verkehrsgewerbes und des Gastgewerbes Baden-Württemberg Verwaltungs-GmbH Kreditgarantiegemeinschaft des Handels Baden-Württemberg Verwaltungs-GmbH Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg (MBG) Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft Region Stuttgart mbH, initial contribution

4,000,000 630,980 104,680

39,773 18,289 12,514

Contribution: In the accounting of the contributions, the bad debt loss is always directly written off. On the balance sheet, an additional value adjustment is carried out. Here, the specifications of the specific accounting guidelines for CCIs are relevant. Accounts receivable – trade: The level of trade receivables totals 2,213,105 euros before value adjustments. This is made up of charges for the field of public service tasks and fees for services rendered in the services sector. Value adjustments totalling 74,083 euros were carried out.

Other assets

10,226

The volume arises essentially from outstanding accounts receivable which are not attributable to supplies and services. This includes interest receivable, public subsidies and miscellaneous other assets.

Other loans: The CCI has also made the following long-term loans:

Euros Employer loans Loan for the GARP Training Centre

7,450 9,934

Safeguards for the retirement pension obligations: In line with the provisions for pension obligations associated with the provision of personnel, 3,437,833 euros is reported under the balance sheet item “Other loans and reinsurance claims”.

Inventories: raw materials and supplies The stocks of wine and heating oil are reported under the inventories. The LIFO method was applied in accordance with Section 256 of the German Commercial Code (HGB) and the lower fair value pursuant to Section 253 paragraph 4 of the HGB.

Cash, bank balances, cheques The investments in the construction of the new building are off set by the revenues from the sale of the R Building of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region at the end of the year, so that the cash and cash equivalents as of the balance sheet date are more or less unchanged compared to the previous year.

Prepaid expenses and deferred charges Prepaid expenses and deferred charges were formed on the basis of payments effected in 2014 for costs of materials and personnel for 2015.

Net position The net position is 27.98 per cent of the equity capital and comparable with the share capital at companies.

Inventories: finished goods and goods for resale Compensation reserve Sculptures for the CCI to honour member companies are shown on the balance sheet under this item. These were valued at their acquisition costs in accordance with the LIFO method.

Advance payments to suppliers his amount essentially results from advance payments for examination papers for the final examinations in 2014/2015 in vocational training.

In accordance with section 15 (3) of the Financial Statute, the compensation reserve amounts to 37.57 per cent of the operating expenses assessed for 2014 in the profit plans of the main budget and PAL, plus interest expenses for personnel provisions (57,039,000 euros). This is used in particular to compensate for fluctuations in contribution revenue resulting from cyclical changes in the economy. However, it also includes cover for risks associated with PAL.

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43

Financial Data Other reserves

Liabilities to banks

This balance sheet item contains the appropriated reserves as of the balance sheet date which were decided upon by the Plenary Assembly:

At the balance sheet date there were no liabilities to banks.

Euros Reserve for safeguarding the risk of interest rate changes for pension provisions Construction reserve Reserve for securing the reduction in contributions and charges

5,310,852 1,156,661 2,631,835

According to a resolution of the Plenary Assembly in March 2014, 2.386 billion euros from the positive result in 2013 was allocated to the reserve for safeguarding the amount set aside for assisting members with their contributions and fees, as well as 1.887 billion euros of the reserve to hedge the risk of a change to interest rates from pension provisions. During the process of adopting the 2014 annual financial statements, the Plenary Assembly approved the resolution to reverse the reserve for safeguarding the amount set aside to assist members with their contributions and fees, as well as the allocation of this volume to the reserve to safeguard the risk of changes to interest rates for pension provisions. With the further allocation of the reserve for safeguarding against the risk of a change to interest rates for pension provisions, the requirement of the Plenary Assembly to ensure sufficient financial security has been satisfied.

Operating profit The consolidated annual profit is 763,506 euros. Of this, 698,000 euros relates to the PAL shadow budget alone and 65,000 euros to the main budget.

Provisions for pensions and similar obligations The provisions requirement consists of: Euros Pension commitments (active, retired and non-forfeitable pension rights) Pension commitments from provision of personnel

78,282,724 2,749,377

On the basis of section 6a of the Income Tax Act (EStG), the pension provisions are valued at the level of the fair values of the future obligations. The 2005 versions of the actuarial tables of Dr. Klaus Heubeck are used for this with an actuarial interest rate of 4.54 per cent.

44 CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

Trade accounts payable The trade accounts payable are recognised at the settlement amount.

Amounts owed to group undertakings The amounts owed to group undertakings result from off setting against the subsidiary budget for the CCI Training House (IHK-Bildungshaus).

Other liabilities This amount consists of 324,082 euros from contribution assessments which could not be paid out. Additionally, there are amounts of 368,465 euros for project amounts or subsidies, as well as 446,556 euros for tax liabilities.

Deferred income Through the reintroduction of the registration and support charge for training contracts, deferred income of 3.476.792 euros was formed due to the required accrual method as a consequence of the collection of this in one amount at the end of the probationary period.

Profit and Loss Statement: CCI for the Stuttgart Region – Main Budget

1 2 3 4 5 6

2015 Target in euros

Actual in 2014 in euros

Actual in 2013 in euros

38,410,000 6,515,600 868,400 0 0 3,508,600 761,700 2,516,100

35,069,444.20 6,211,650.09 880,617.82 0.00 0.00 5,099,918.44 531,702.42 2,344,225.60

34,441,934.48 5,291,722.28 857,700.63 0.00 0.00 2,541,268.39 634,818.54 1,606,266.87

49,302,600

47,261,630.55

43,132,625.78

5,197,500 1,071,100 4,126,400 25,074,000 19,283,900

4,851,388.67 1,039,512.12 3,811,876.55 24,166,586.94 18,249,167.43

4,669,830.59 1,032,810.25 3,637,020.34 20,119,790.89 17,337,120.98

5,790,100 1,959,000 10,713,200

5,917,419.51 1,334,254.96 10,102,597.66

2,782,669.91 1,018,262.05 9,348,650.46

42,943,700

40,454,828.23

35,156,533.99

6,358,900

6,806,802.32

7,976,091.79

0

0.00

0.00

95,000 16,300 0

119,254.76 37,084.83 0.00

166,659.60 67,300.94 0.00

0 8,677,700 8,677,700

0.00 6,795,050.43 6,794,914.00

0.00 5,049,744.44 5,049,740.00

Financial result

-8,566,400

-6,638,710.84

-4,815,783.90

Profit or loss on ordinary activities

-2,207,500

168,091.48

3,160,307.89

0 0

0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00

0

0.00

0.00

17,000 89,600

13,321.17 89,359.94

14,703.17 89,112.94

-2,314,100

65,410.37

3,056,491.78

-2,264,100

626,427.20

3,674,544.67

0 0 2,314,100 0

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0

65,410.37

Income from contributions Income from charges Income from fees Increase or reduction in the inventories of work in progress Other own work capitalised Other operating income of which: income from government grants of which: income from refunds Operating income

7

Material expenditure a) Expenses for raw materials and supplies b) Expenses for purchased services 8 Personnel expenses a) Salary expenses b) Social security contributions and expenses for pensions and assistance 9 Depreciation 10 Other operating expenses Operating expenses Operating result 11 Income from investments 12 Income from other securities and loans of financial assets 13 Other interest and similar income of which: income from discounting 14 Depreciation of financial assets and marketable securities classified as current assets 15 Interest and similar expenditure of which: expenditure from addition of accrued interest

16 Extraordinary income 17 Extraordinary expenses Extraordinary profit/loss 18 Taxes on income and earnings 19 Other taxes 20 Annual profit or loss Annual profit or loss excluding construction project 1 21a. Allocation of the profit/loss carried forward from the previous year 21b. Remaining profit/loss carried forward 22 Withdrawals from reserves 23 Allocations to reserves 24 Operating profit

598,777.12 2 0.00 618,052.89 0.00 4,273,321.79

1 Construction project in Stuttgart, from 2013 including Göppingen 2 After the implementation of the resolution on the appropriation of net income for 2012

CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

45

Financial Data Financial Statement: CCI for the Stuttgart Region – Main Budget 2015 Target in euros

Actual in 2014 in euros

Actual in 2013 in euros

-2,314,100 1,959,000

65,410.37 1,334,254.96

3,056,491.78 1,018,262.05

6,408,000 6,408,000 0 0 *** ***

9,824,338.66 8,685,887.00 -113,915.91 1,252,367.57 -414,341.31 -1,730,785.00

2,869,807.89 631,931.00 13,452.33 2,224,424.56 -72,829.33 -11,107.29

***

-2,803,862.93

1,374,378.51

8

Annual profit or loss excluding extraordinary items Depreciation and amortisation of fixed assets Change to the provisions/accrued and deferred charges Change to the provisions Change to the prepaid expenses Change to the deferred income Other expenditure and receipt not affecting the balance sheet result Disposals from fixed assets Change from the decrease/increase in inventories, the receivables from contributions, charges, fees and other supplies and services, as well as other assets which are not allocable to the investment or financing activities Changes from the decrease/increase in trade accounts payable, as well as other liabilities which are not allocable to the investment or financing activities Extraordinary items

*** ***

-422,968.42 0.00

-2,424,345.10 0.00

9

Cash flow from current business activities

6,052,900

5,852,046.33

5,810,658.51

10 11 12 13 14 15

Proceeds from disposals of tangible fixed assets Payments for investments in the tangible fixed assets Proceeds from disposals of intangible assets Payments for investments in intangible assets Proceeds from disposals from the financial assets Payments for investments in financial assets

1,100,000 -2,275,010 *** -256,200 1,300,000 ***

7,203,586.00 -22,863,435.78 0.00 -144,367.29 9,810,245.47 0.00

11,748.29 -11,809,366.74 0.00 -253,517.14 18,654,653.00 0.00

16

Cash flow from investment activities

-131,210

-5,993,971.60

6,603,517.41

17 18

Proceeds from the take-up of (financial) loans and investment subsidies Repayments of (financial) loans

0 0

0.00 -1,242.03

1,242.03 -135.67

19

Cash flow from financing activities

0

-1,242.03

1,106.36

20 21

Change to the cash and cash equivalents affecting the balance sheet (total of lines 9, 16 and 19) Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

5,921,690 ***

-143,167.30 30,704,676.73

12,415,282.28 18,289,394.45

22

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

***

30,561,509.43

30,704,676.73

1 2 3 3.1 3.2.1 3.2.2 4 5 6

7

Note on items 14 and 15: Financial flows are netted *** For these items there are no target values provided for in the Financial Statute of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

46 CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

Explanations of the Profit and Loss Statement of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region – Main Budget

Region in 2014 had a total volume of 35.1 million euros, 21.4 per cent of which consists of basic contributions.

Income

The distribution between the allocation of the current year and the allocation from previous years fluctuates significantly. The final settlement occurs on average after a delay of at least three to four years. As a rule this has two effects: not only on the final settlement, but also on the ongoing account, as the assessment bases that are brought to account are also used as the basis for the current assessment.

The total income in 2014 is significantly higher than the income generated in the previous year and the target. This development is essentially attributable to unexpectedly high assessment bases for the provisionally assessed contribution years of large member companies which were brought to account at the end of the year. The income in 2014 totals around 47 million euros. Income in 2014 Contributions

Income from charges

Charges

The CCI for the Stuttgart Region collects charges for its public services. The charges are calculated to cover the costs and are regularly checked in this respect.

Fees Other operating income

Owing to the economic crisis in the years 2009 to early 2010, many member companies carried out downward adjustments during this period to their assessment bases. As the economy recovered, however, the companies made no adjustment to their assessment bases as a rule. As a result of the submission of the actual commercial income, large contribution payers were finally brought to account in 2014 for the previous years.

Financial income

Income from contributions The membership contributions are divided up over the nonincome component of the basic contribution and the allocation whose assessment basis is the operating profits. The assessment basis for the assessment is always the anticipated operating profits of the assessment year. As this is not yet fixed at the time of the assessment, a provisional assessment is initially carried out on the basis of the last operating profits determined by the inland revenue office or adjusted by the company. Only after the final determination of the operating profits by the inland revenue office the final account is submitted, which can then result in additional payment on the part of the member or a refund by the CCI. Accordingly, the contribution earnings of the CCI are made up of the basic contributions, the allocation from previous years (i. e. the final settlement of the contribution years that were initially only provisionally assessed) and the provisional allocation of the current assessment year. As the time of the final determination of the operating profits by the inland revenue office is neither known nor plannable, there are limits on the ability to plan for the annual contribution earnings and developments in the general economic situation as a result of this lack of predictability, so that they are subject to significant fluctuations. The contributions of the CCI for the Stuttgart

One exception is the registration and support charge for apprentices, which had been suspended since 2003. At its meeting in December 2011, the Plenary Assembly of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region decided to lift the suspension and collect the registration and support charge at the beginning of the 2013 training year – at a recalculated level. Due to the required accrual method for the charges, which is levied in one amount, only part of this is applicable to the individual years. Not until 2017 will the income from this cahrge be recognised the full extent. The charges of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region are generated in the following public service areas:

Euros Vocational training Vocational further training Professional admission requirements, EU Insurance Mediation Directive Foreign trade documents, duplicates Miscellaneous

1,769,991 2,506,364

Total charges

6,211,650

724,666 1,199,470 11,161

Income from fees Two thirds of the fees of the CCI are obtained from revenues from seminars, with the rest distributed among the sales of CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

47

Financial Data addresses and forms, certificates of honour and exchanges. Overall, the income from fees in 2014 was 880,618 euros.

Other operating income The significant other operating income in addition to public funding and reimbursements is income from the renting out of event venues, caretaker dwellings at District Chambers and offices. An additional special effect in 2014 was the book profit from sale of the R Building.

Personnel expenses The CCI for the Stuttgart Region (excluding PAL and CCI Training House) had a total of 342 employees as of December 31, 2014, or on the basis of the part-time working contracts 291.53 person-years (PY). In addition to this, there are 13 employees currently on parental leave. Moreover, the CCI is currently training 25 apprentices for the profession of Managerial Assistant in Office Communication, six DH students on the Services Management in Non-Profit-Organisations course of studies and six trainees.

Euros Reimbursements Public funding Rental yields Reversals of provisions Book profit from sale of the R Building Miscellaneous

2,344,226 531,702 188,230 104,192 1,740,649 190,920

Total other operating income

5,099,918

The social security costs/retirement pension item comprises the social insurance contributions, the pension payments, the partial retirement payments in the period when the individual does not have to work, as well as the adjustment expenditure for the pension and other personnel provisions. The CCI for the Stuttgart Region (excluding PAL and CCI Training House) has 198 pensioners with a pension entitlement and five employees who are currently in the period of partial retirement where they’re not required to work.

Expenditure Depreciation As in comparable companies, the expenses side is dominated by the share of personnel costs which is usual among service providers. In 2014 the expenditure of the CCI is divided up as follows

The depreciation includes the write-down requirements for the intangible assets, all real estate of the CCI and all other tangible fixed assets. The depreciation is carried out by the straight-line method on a pro rata temporis basis.

Expenditure in 2014 Other operating expenses

Other operating expenses Material expenditure Interest expense provisions

Construction measures

Social expenses and welfare

Depreciation

Salary expenses

The important items in the other operating expenses are office supplies, computer services and telecommunication expenses, third-party services and expenditure for the maintenance and care of the land, buildings, machinery and office equipment, as well as the allocation for the Baden-Württemberg CCI and GCCI. One special effect is the part of the construction project for the headquarters in Stuttgart and the District Chamber in Göppingen which is recognised as an expense in the other operating expenses in the amount of 561,000 euros. This includes the expenditure for the interim solutions at Kronenstraße 25 and the R building, as well as advisory services.

Material expenditure Financial result Around three quarters of the operating expenditure relates to compensation for examinations and examination materials. The rest is accounted for by printed matter, expert reports and other third-party services for operational performance.

48 CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

On the basis of a decision taken by the committees, the CCI for the Stuttgart Region began in the middle of 2007 to set up a special fund for safeguarding the pension commitments. The fund has been established exclusively for the CCI for the Stuttgart Region and is subject to the strict investment regulations which apply to the CCI for the Stuttgart Region as a corporation under public law.

As a rule, speculative forms of investment are not undertaken. It is therefore not possible to generate high yields; the preservation of capital has precedence. That the fund works according to these principles can be seen by the fact that the allocated volume of 20 million euros is currently at a level of 24.4 million euros. The low financial returns are due to the current interest rate situation. The adjustment expenditure for the pension, benefit and partial retirement provisions is to be broken down according to the Accounting Law Modernisation Act (BilMoG) into personnel expenditure and interest expenses, which is where the negative financial result comes from.

Explanations of the Financial Statement of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region – Main Budget

Both the PAL and the CCI Training House are operated as subsidiary budgets with their own economic plan, their own earnings statement and financial statement. This ensures transparency for the economic planning and accounting of the CCI. In 2014 the PAL had a turnover of 13.2 million euros. This compares to operating expenses of 12.3 million euros. The negative financial result is 395,000 euros. As a result of the profit carried forward from the previous year, the annual profit is 299,000 euros. The investment volume was 91,500 euros. As of December 31, 2014 the PAL had a total of 59 employees (corresponding to 54,4 PY).

CCI Training House (IHK-Bildungshaus) – Subsidiary Budget

The main investments made were as follows:

Euros for the construction of the new headquarters in Stuttgart for the construction of the new Göppingen District Chamber for licences for technical equipment for factory and office equipment

Examination Questions and Training Materials Development Centre PAL (Prüfungsaufgaben- und Lehrmittelentwicklungsstelle) – Subsidiary Budget

21,536,503 460,516 144,367 373,701 492,716

The CCI Training House closed 2014 with an annual loss of 63,000 euros. The profit carried forward from the previous year is allocated in accordance with the resolution of the Plenary Assembly to the reserve for safeguarding the interest change risk for pension provisions and to cover the deficit. The result is therefore balanced. At the CCI Training House there were a total of 28 employees (corresponding to 26.74 PY) as of December 31, 2014.

The above annual financial statements, including notes as of December 31, 2014, are an abbreviated version. For the full annual financial statements dated December 31, 2014, including the notes, management report and financial management for the 2014 business year, the auditing office for the Chambers of Commerce and Industry has issued an unqualified audit opinion dated March 3, 2015. The Plenary Assembly of the CCI adopted the annual financial statements at its meeting on March 24, 2015. The actions of the President and Chief Executive Officer were formally approved.

CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

49

Photo: Brigida González Photo: Brigida González

In its new building, into which it moved in the summer of 2014, the CCI offers its member companies a readily accessible location for advice, information and further training. Around 100,000 customers visit the CCI headquarters every year – with the number still rising.

30 halls, conference rooms and a gallery covering a total of 2,700 square metres of event space are available for seminars, workshops, information events and receptions. A control system with coloured bars guides visitors through the building to the appropriate room.

50 CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

Photo: Brigida González

Members, Contribution

Visitors are received in the open and friendly entrance area. Separate areas are available for consultations with the CCI specialists.

Construction Projects CCI moves into its new building in Stuttgart With a ceremony, the CCI for the Stuttgart Region opened its new headquarters in Jägerstraße in September 2014. The new building offers member companies of the CCI an attractive location for consultations, information and events, as well as a meeting point for a mutual exchange of views. With a construction period of two years and a budget of 42.5 million euros, the timeframe and budget stipulated by the Plenary Assembly has so far been adhered to. Welcoming speeches were held by Winfried Kretschmann, Minister-President of the State of Baden-Württemberg, Dr. Eric Schweitzer, President of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), Fritz Kuhn, Mayor of the State Capital of Stuttgart, as well as Professor Tobias Wulf of wulf architekten. The new development supports to a particular extent the customer focus and service provision for which the CCI stands. The building radiates openness and transparency, is inviting and clearly structured. The architecture is appropriate and in line with requirements and bears witness to the proper use of funds. The office concept with “open space areas“ offers advantages for internal communication, information and cooperation. The new CCI building has met with a good deal of interest throughout Germany. The large number of guided tours for industry experts – architects, specialist planners, building engineers, students and specialist publishers – are evidence of this, as is the large demand to hire the premises. The CCI is happy to comply with these requests, provided that this is permitted by the capacity available, which it also requires itself.

The CCI for the Stuttgart Region has sold the remaining old parts of its ensemble of buildings, including a proportional share of the land in Jägerstraße, for 7.2 million euros to the German railway company Deutsche Bahn. In order to avoid the technically complex and expensive procedure which would have been required to ensure that the building was safe due to the tunnelling work for Stuttgart 21, Deutsche Bahn decided to purchase the building and demolish it.

Göppingen District Chamber: land purchase completed The land purchase contract for the planned new development of the CCI District Chamber building in Göppingen‘s Jahnstraße was signed in the autumn of 2014. After a prolonged search for a new location and negotiations with the town of Göppingen, the District Chamber and the town authorities finally reached an agreement. At the end of 2014, the applicants who prequalified in the negotiation procedure according to VOB A (German Construction Contract Procedures) in the first step of the invitation to tender submitted their bids for the design and construction services. The selection committee, on which the Göppingen District, the Building Committee of the CCI and the town of Göppingen are represented, examined the submitted papers at the end of February with the external project support of Drees & Sommer and decided which bidders should go through to the next round of negotiations. The contract is expected to be awarded in the summer of 2015.

New location in Nürtingen The CCI office in Nürtingen of the Esslingen-Nürtingen District Chamber is expected to move into new premises in the second half of 2015 in the “Stadtportal am Neckar“ (“Town Portal on CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

51

Members, Contribution the River Neckar“) at the entrance to Nürtingen town centre. There, the CCI has rented around 570 square metres on the second floor for examination rooms and offices. The new location in Mühlstraße is in a central position and can be easily reached by rail, bus and car. The current building in Bismarckstraße was no longer suitable for the new distribution of tasks after the merger of the Esslingen and Nürtingen District Chambers. All of the further training measures of the CCI for the administrative districts of Esslingen and Göppingen are pooled at the Nürtingen location. The CCI holds advanced training course examinations there with around 200 voluntary examiners. In addition, CCI services for companies are offered at the Nürtingen office, above all in the field of foreign trade. The buildings and the four pieces of land of the CCI in Nürtingen – covering around 2,500 square metres together – are to be sold after the relocation.

Improvements in Member Services Series of events launched specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises As a representative of the interests of business, the CCI looks after the small and medium-sized enterprises in the region in particular. In order that it can provide them with even better support, a series of events was launched in 2014 which are tailored specifically to the needs of this target group. The topics ranged from knowledge of fiscal matters for small business owners, through training, press relations and social media, to company health management. The series of events will be continued in 2015 and supplemented by further topics. In the region the District Chambers have established special offers for small and medium-sized enterprises, for example the SMEs meeting point in Göppingen.

CCI service for small and medium-sized enterprises So that its member companies can be even better informed of what information, advice and support they can receive from their CCI, the Chamber has launched the new format of the “CCI Service Tip“. This provides information at regular intervals in a question-and-answer form on the Internet, by email newsletter and in the Wirtschaft Magazine on various CCI services which are aligned in particular to the requirements of small and medium-sized to businesses.

52 CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

New transparency portal on the Internet On its new “CCI transparent“ portal, the CCI provides answers to questions concerning the tasks and offers of the CCI, as well as their financing. The topics dealt with are the CCI membership and contribution, representation of their interests, the performance of public duties, CCI service, finance, honorary positions at the CCI, CCI elections and organisation. “CCI transparent“ is available at www.stuttgart.ihk.de in the section “About us“.

Wirtschaft Magazine as an app on the go Wirtschaft Magazine can also be conveniently read on the go on any smartphone or tablet from May 2015 on. A corresponding app can be downloaded free of charge in the shops for iPhone and Android and will soon also be available for Microsoft devices. The Annual Report can then also be read with an app. The aim is to make other CCI publications gradually accessible to users on the go. In March 2015, Wirtschaft Magazine came seventh in the national ranking of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) from a total of more than 70 CCI magazines. Represented on the independent jury were experts from the media and design fields, as well as the CCI.

“Mystery Man“ helps with quality assurance As part of its quality management system according to ISO 9001, the CCI carries out regular quality audits with internal and external auditors and records the level of satisfaction of its member companies. Numerous suggestions and proposals from employees and member companies are incorporated into the continuous improvement process. In 2015 the CCI for the Stuttgart Region is again participating in a nationwide Mystery Man campaign, with which the quality of the service and contents of the CCI‘s offers will be tested throughout the year by means of covert telephone calls and emails.

Level of the CCI contribution Joint stock companies 1 Cooperatives 2 Other legal persons

Partnerships 1 Registered merchants 1

Companies not entered in the Commercial Register (small businesses)

2015

2014 3

2015

2014 3

2015

2014 3

Basic contribution in euros with one trade income − up to 5,200 euros − over 5,200 euros to 24,500 euros − over 24,500 euros

168 168 168

168 168 168

125 125 125

125 125 125

− 25 50

− 25 50

Allocation assessment rate in per cent

0.21

0.21

0.21

0.21

0.21

0.21





15,340

15,340

15,340

15,340

Allowance for the allocation in euros

1 entered in the Commercial Register 2 entered in the Register of Cooperatives 3 In conjunction with the adoption of the annual financial statements for 2013, the Plenary Assembly had decided to reduce the contribution assessment for 2014 for the member companies by ten per cent (see Annual Report 13/14). For the arrangements in detail, reference is made to the business statutes for 2015.

Planned use of contributions in 2015 Representation of political interests

Vocational Training

Project work

Documents, certificates

Information service and contacts

Further Training

Promotion of trade and industry

Member companies of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region − according to company headquarter Companies entered in a register 1

Companies not registered

Total companies

2015

2014

2015

2014

2015

2014

Stuttgart Böblingen District Chamber Esslingen-Nürtingen District Chamber Göppingen District Chamber Ludwigsburg District Chamber Rems-Murr District Chamber

14,263 5,918 8,960 3,893 8,178 6,642

13,874 5,783 8,823 3,840 8,014 6,475

23,048 14,820 21,056 10,238 20,739 17,147

24,341 15,864 22,528 10,778 22,173 18,245

37,311 20,738 30,016 14,131 28,917 23,789

38,215 21,647 31,351 14,618 30,187 24,720

CCI for the Stuttgart Region

47,854

46,809

107,048

113,929

154,902

160,738

1 Commercial Register or Register of Cooperatives 2 The CCI for the Stuttgart Region has reviewed and adjusted the size of its membership in accordance with CCI law. This is the reason why the number of small businesses has declined. Date: at the beginning of every year

CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

53

Members, Contribution Member companies of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region – according to legal form and branch of industry Change 2015

2014

absolute

in per cent

Registered member companies Entered in the Commercial Register with headquarters Regional branch entered in the Commercial Register Cooperatives

47,854 46,692 941 221

46,809 45,646 939 224

1,045 1,046 2 -3

2.2 2.3 0.2 -1.3

Breakdown according to legal form Individual proprietorships (registered trader) General partnerships GmbH & Co. KG Partnerships limited by shares Other limited partnerships Limited liability companies (GmbH) Public limited companies Mutual insurance associations Legal form under foreign law Cooperatives Miscellaneous

3,549 611 6,061 10 811 32,541 706 10 328 221 3,006

3,582 618 5,977 10 802 31,937 707 9 329 224 2,614

-33 -7 84 0 9 604 -1 1 -1 -3 392

-0.9 -1.1 1.4 0.0 1.1 1.9 -0.1 11.1 -0.3 -1.3 15.0

Breakdown according to branch of industry Agriculture and forestry, fisheries Manufacturing industry of which processing industry of which construction industry Trade in, maintenance and repairs of motor vehicles of which motor-vehicle trade, motor vehicle repairs of which wholesale trade, including commercial agencies of which retail trade Hotel and restaurant industry Transport and warehousing Information and communication Financial and insurance services Land and housing Services for companies Other services of which healthcare service and social services not allocable

100 7,019 4,963 1,298 10,355 1,246 4,504 4,587 1,024 1,286 3,351 1,690 4,133 17,322 1,571 342 3

99 6,925 4,910 1,284 10,220 1,212 4,499 4,491 990 1,258 3,240 1,564 3,983 17,029 1,498 315 3

1 94 53 14 135 34 5 96 34 28 111 233 150 293 73 27

1.0 1.4 1.1 1.1 1.3 2.8 0.1 2.1 3.4 2.2 3.4 16.0 3.8 1.7 4.9 8.6

107,048

113,929

-6,881

-6.0

560 9,908 2,710 3,266 30,178 3,292 6,859 20,020 6,429 3,856 7,078 6,081 3,461 25,926 13,549 1,845 22

571 10,464 2,821 3,678 32,201 3,463 7,372 21,357 6,938 4,375 7,457 6,242 3,619 27,783 14,263 1,948 16

-11 -556 -111 -412 -2,023 -171 -513 -1,337 -509 -519 -379 -161 -158 -1,857 -714 -103

-1.9 -5.3 -3.9 -11.2 -6.3 -4.9 -7.0 -6.3 -7.3 -11.9 -5.1 -2.6 -4.4 -6.7 -5.0 -5.3

154,902

160,738

-5,836

-3.6

4,079

3,974

105

2.6

158,981

164,712

-5,731

-3.5

Non-registered member companies (small businesses) Breakdown according to branch of industry Agriculture and forestry, fisheries Manufacturing industry of which processing industry of which construction industry Trade in, maintenance and repairs of motor vehicles of which motor-vehicle trade, motor vehicle repairs of which wholesale trade, including commercial agencies of which retail trade Hotel and restaurant industry Transport and warehousing Information and communication Financial and insurance services Land and housing Services for companies Other services of which healthcare service and social services not allocable Total member companies Business premises of companies with headquarters outside the Stuttgart Region Member companies and business premises

1 The CCI for the Stuttgart Region has reviewed and adjusted the size of its membership in accordance with CCI law. This is the reason why the number of small businesses has declined. Date: at the beginning of every year

54 CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

The economic significance of the Stuttgart Region Powerful Stuttgart Region

Strong industries in the Stuttgart Region

Value added per gainfully employed individual 2012 Stuttgart Region

Baden-Württemberg

Values in euros

, ,

.

, ,

,

Manufacturing industry overall

.

.

. .

,

,

Gross value added overall

Share of the Stuttgart Region in all employees of a sector in Germany 2014 2

.

Germany

,

.

,

Services overall

Vehicle Mechanical Con- Scientific Publishers, conenge- sulting and struction neering services technical media services

.

.

All ICT Financial Electrical services industry enge- sectors, total neering

Above-average economic performance per capita, a high export rate for manufacturing industry, one of the lowest unemployment rates in Germany and a high proportion of employees in the fields of research and development. The Stuttgart Region is one of the leading economic and innovation regions in Germany.

Area in square kilometres Population at January 1, 2014 Gainfully employed individuals 2012 (overall economic calculation) Employees liable for social insurance contributions on June 30, 2014 Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross Value Added (GVA) 2012 GDP at current prices, in millions of euros GDP per gainfully employed individual, in euros GDP per capita, in euros GVA at market prices, in millions of euros GVA agriculture and forestry, fisheries, in millions of euros GVA manufacturing industry, in millions of euros GVA services, in millions of euros Research and Development intensities of the companies 2011 1 Internal R&D expenditure, in thousands of euros Share of the internal R&D expenditure in GDP, in per cent R&D personnel (in full-time equivalents) R&D personnel (in full-time equivalents), per 10,000 gainfully employed Manufacturing industry in 2014 Businesses with more than 50 employees, annual average Employees, annual average Total turnover, in millions of euros Foreign turnover, in millions of euros Export ratio, in per cent Trade tax and municipal debt 2013 Trade tax revenues, in thousands of euros Trade tax revenues per inhabitant, in euros Level of debt of the districts and municipalities per inhabitant, in euros Labour market figures – annual average in 2014 2 Open positions liable for social insurance contributions Unemployed Unemployment rate, in per cent

Stuttgart Region

BadenWürttemberg

Germany

Stuttgart Region compared to B.-W.

3,654 2,668,439 1,502,300 1,145,521

35,751 10,631,278 5,801,800 4,266,000

357,340 80,767,463 41,608,000 30,169,648

10.2 % 25.1 % 25.9 % 26.9 %

112,452 74,853 42,481 100,660 205 39,026 61,429

395,568 68,180 37,427 354,087 1,922 138,018 214,147

2,666,400 64,084 33,113 2,386,790 19,980 728,260 1,638,550

28.4 % 109.8 3 113.5 3 28.4 % 10.7 % 28.3 % 28.7 %

8,121,778 7.5 43,143 291

15,698,312 4.1 97,548 170

51,077,169 2.0 357,129 87

51.7 % 183.3 3 44.2 % 171.3 3

890 295,402 98,257 66,000 67.2 %

4,271 1,095,703 309,344 174,212 56.3 %

22,542 5,341,494 1,670,264 809,709 48.5 %

20.8 % 27.0 % 31.8 % 37.9 % 119.3 3

1,692,033 637 391

6,358,505 600 600

43,027,015 575 1,747

26.6 % 106.2 3 65.2 3

20,297 59,608 4.1

68,684 230,372 4.0

461,802 2,899,714 6.7

29.6 % 25.9 % 104.2 3

1 Source: Stifterverband der deutschen Wissenschaft and calculations of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region 2 Source: Federal Employment Agency; unemployment rates relative to civilian labour force overall All other data is based on information from the State Statistical Office in Baden-Württemberg and the Federal Statistical Office, as well as calculations of the CCI. 3 Index: Baden-Württemberg = 100

CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

55

CCI Work in Figures Opinions and processing cases I

Cooperation/adresses Offers/enquiries in the nexxt-change enterprise exchange Offers/enquiries in the cooperation exchange Publication of the list of companies Company information Manufacturer and service performance records Member certificates (domestic) Database search from the CCI company database (domestic company information) Database search from the CCI company database (foreign company information) Database search for foreign addresses Company name search Public procurement Involvement in public procurement review processes (Baden-Württemberg, federal) Additional nominations in the case of restricted invitations to tender Prequalification in the field of supply and services Authorised experts Publicly appointed and sworn experts New appointments of authorised experts Nominations of authorised experts Point of single contact Processing cases Trade and services Appeals to the Arbitration Committee to settle competition disputes (Stuttgart Region, Heilbronn, East Württemberg) Examinations for testing expertise in the retail trade with over-the-counter medications Examinations for testing specialist knowledge in the trade in firearms Participant in restaurant training Examinations for testing competence in the security industry Participant in training for the security industry Examinations for testing the competence of insurance intermediaries and consultants Entries in the register for insurance intermediaries and consultants Examinations for testing the expertise of financial investment intermediaries (since January 2013) Entries in the register for financial investment intermediaries (since January 2013) Innovation and environment Applications for digital signature Entries in the environmental audit register EMAS (new registrations, renewals, cancellations) Dangerous goods Re-approvals and approvals of the modification of training courses for dangerous goods drivers Tests/ADR certificates for dangerous goods drivers Re-approvals and approvals of the modification of training courses for dangerous goods safety advisers Tests/training certificates for dangerous goods safety advisers Passenger and freight transport Applications for recognition of professional suitability based on practical experience in transport Professional suitability tests in passenger transport, excluding taxis/rental cars (Baden-Württemberg) Professional suitability tests in taxi/rental car transport (Stuttgart Region, Heilbronn, East Württemberg) Professional suitability tests in road haulage (Stuttgart Region, Heilbronn, East Württemberg) Tests in accordance with the professional driver qualification law for bus drivers Tests in accordance with the professional driver qualification law for lorry drivers Transfers of technical qualification certificates Information CCI on the Internet: total visits CCI on the Internet: total page views CCI on the Internet: email newsletter subscribers “Magazin Wirtschaft” print run Seminars, information events, lectures Employees Number of employees (CCI, PAL, CCI Training House) (December 31 in each case) of which apprentices of which trainees

56 CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

2014

2013

107 15 205 19,504 912 530 125 43 35 166

113 14 233 18,663 901 490 145 47 45 131

13 390 164

10 350 134

262 8 3,158

256 4 2,957

194

229

29 23 16 1,035 569 417 286 791 359 1,535

21 91 7 1,024 537 332 197 843 428 1,470

91 36

70 41

8 1,510 0 98

11 1,615 4 100

54 38 194 191 135 369 146

36 43 137 161 146 388 196

2,725,801 6,961,321 18,081 76,000 698

2,637,777 6,877,964 17,374 76,400 610

465 31 6

447 29 7

Opinions and processing cases II

Guarantee applications Volume in 1,000 euros Applications for start-up grant Foreign applications Official opinions on permit requirement trade Registration process in the Commercial Register General information on registrability Legal enquiries on registrability Prohibition of trade procedures Development and land use plans Applications for arrangement of special, annual and weekly markets Applications for arrangement of trade fairs, exhibitions Announcement of mobile outlets Registration of auctions ATA/CPD carnets Goods value of the carnets issued in 1,000 euros Certificates of origin Foreign commercial invoices Certificates for Abroad Of which electronically issued documents Certificates of honour issued for employees Company anniversary documents issued

Total

Total

Stuttgart

Böblingen

EsslingenNürtingen

Göppingen

Ludwigsburg

Rems-Murr

2014

2013

2014

2014

2014

2014

2014

2014

292 62,134

280 44,368

78 13,140

33 10,771

56 13,897

37 6,468

35 5,896

53 11,962

339 36

339 45

52 15

30 5

103 6

47 1

54 8

53 1

447

444

22

85

51

28

141

120

1,793

1,766

628

245

320

184

199

217

1,297

1,158

586

155

176

121

123

136

496

608

42

90

144

63

76

81

252

257

23

67

12

13

97

40

313

339

34

55

66

44

89

25

186

172

27

24

11

19

41

64

94

151

3

12

57

6

4

12

112

100

41

30

4

18

0

19

145 2,527 187,184 72,650

120 2,664 219,380 72,416

88 1,195 120,922 29,166

35 437 24,533 11,134

3 308 16,087 9,121

4 104 2,997 4,013

11 260 14,905 14,753

4 223 7,740 4,463

29,965 6,174

33,180 10,934

12,335 2,272

3,092 567

3,640 753

1,478 639

7,263 680

2,157 1,263

24,560

8,930

5,399

4,756

1,186

0

12,580

639

5,600

5,465

1,414

519

1,215

695

916

841

605

520

117

74

111

67

149

87

CCI Training Institutions: seminars and training courses Events

CCI Training House (IHK-Bildungshaus) GARP Training Centre for the CCI for the Stuttgart Region (GARP Bildungszentrum für die IHK Region Stuttgart e. V.) Association for the Promotion of Vocational Training VFB (Verein zur Förderung der Berufsbildung e. V.) Summe

Participants

Teaching Units

2014

2013

2014

2013

2014

2013

457

402

5,480

5,042

35,431

29,282

521

506

4,769

4,867

108,789

105,257

218

161

3,517

2,532

35,393

28,077

1,196

1,069

13,766

12,441

179,613

162,616

CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

57

CCI Work in Figures Vocational and Further Training at the CCI for the Stuttgart Region 2014

2013

Vocational training and retraining contracts Newly registered vocational training contracts Commercial professions Manufacturing industry Trade Banks Insurance Technical professions Metal technology Electrical engineering Building material, stone and earth Paper, printing Portfolio of training contracts Apprentices in inter-company training (first year of training) of which CCI Training House (IHK-Bildungshaus) of which GARP Training Centre (GARP Bildungszentrum) Newly registered retraining contracts Portfolio of retraining contracts

10,608 7,014 632 2,284 589 215 3,594 2,136 782 118 239 28,325 303 100 203 773 1,489

10,824 7,226 686 2,391 680 215 3,598 2,155 786 87 240 28,944 315 96 219 805 1,327

Training companies and trainers Participating training companies Only commercial professions Only technical professions Commercial and technical professions Company trainers Company visits of the training advisers

6,140 4,256 1,171 713 10,297 2,616

6,194 4,379 1,113 702 10,257 2,573

6,942 10,662 8

7,515 10,512 11

43 380 1,144 67 438,838 17

41 352 1,124 64 417,252 32

Professional advanced training examinations Participants in advanced training examinations Commercial examinations Fachkaufleute Fachwirte Betriebswirte Miscellaneous Technical examinations Industriemeister Fachmeister Miscellaneous Instructor aptitude examination

3,387 2,567 351 1,580 531 105 820 410 95 315 2,735

2,986 2,292 296 1,496 434 66 694 295 57 342 2,364

Boards of examiners and examiners Boards of examiners in vocational training Commercial professions Technical professions Honorary examiners in vocational training (examination board members) Commercial professions Technical professions Examination boards in advanced training Commercial professions Technical professions Honorary examiners in advanced training (examination board members) Commercial professions Technical professions

1,142 749 393 9,697 4,991 4,706 249 167 82 3,033 2,144 889

1,132 742 390 9,283 4,642 4,641 261 163 98 3,098 2,171 927

Apprenticeship examinations, scholarships, equality of examination certificates Participants in intermediate examinations Participants in final examinations Applicants for scholarships abroad (Jubilee Foundation) Scholarships awarded by the CCI in conjunction with the provision of vocational training to outstanding students Book prizes awarded by the CCI Commendations issued by the CCI Appeals to the Arbitration Committee Sets of examination papers created by the PAL Equivalence/appraisals of examination certificates and professional certificates of proficiency

58 CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

Bodies CCI Executive Committee

CCI Management

President

Chief Executive Officer

Georg Fichtner Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart

Andreas Richter

Deputy President

Deputy Chief Executive

Dr. Heinz-Werner Schulte Kreissparkasse Ludwigsburg, Ludwigsburg

Bernd Engelhardt Department of Economics, Communication, Quality Management

Arthur Zimmermann Klett Gruppe, Stuttgart

Jochen Haller Ludwigsburg District Chamber

Stuttgart District

(Executive) Managing Directors

Marjoke Breuning, Maute-Benger GmbH, Stuttgart

Hilde Cost Esslingen-Nürtingen District Chamber

Sylvia Dommer-Kroneberg, Dommer Stuttgarter Fahnenfabrik GmbH, Stuttgart Christoph Hahn-Woernle, viastore systems GmbH, Stuttgart Hans-Jörg Huber, Bornemann + Haller KG, Stuttgart Christoph Kübel, Robert Bosch GmbH, Gerlingen Wilfried Porth, Daimler AG, Stuttgart Hans-Jörg Vetter, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart Arthur Zimmermann, Klett Gruppe, Stuttgart

Dr. Martin Frädrich Professions and Qualifications Department Hans-Martin Gayer Rems-Murr District Chamber, Waiblingen Sabine Novak Central Services Department Marion Oker Böblingen District Chamber

Böblingen District

Dr. Hans-Jürgen Reichardt Industry and Transport Department

Andreas Hadler (President of Böblingen District Chamber) Baublies AG, Renningen

Dr. Peter Saile Göppingen District Chamber

Carsten Ulrich Claus (Vice President of Böblingen District Chamber) Kreisparkasse Böblingen, Böblingen

Dieter Zwernemann Legal and Taxes Department

Esslingen-Nürtingen District

Tassilo Zywietz Foreign Trade and Services Department

Heinrich Baumann (President of Esslingen-Nürtingen District Chamber) Eberspächer Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG, Esslingen Horst Keller (Vice President of Esslingen-Nürtingen District Chamber) Keller Lufttechnik GmbH + Co. KG, Kirchheim unter Teck Werner Erich Entenmann Autohaus Entenmann GmbH & Co. KG, Esslingen Joerg Hauber Kaufhaus Hauber GmbH + Co. KG, Nürtingen Göppingen District

CCI Honorary Presidents

Wolf Ulrich Martin (President of Göppingen District Chamber) Bankhaus Gebr. Martin AG, Göppingen Walter Jerusalem (Vice President of Göppingen District Chamber) Zeller + Gmelin GmbH & Co. KG, Eislingen/Fils

Dr. Günter Baumann Prof. Dr. Berthold Leibinger

Ludwigsburg District

Dr. Herbert Müller

Dr. Heinz-Werner Schulte (President of Ludwigsburg District Chamber) Kreissparkasse Ludwigsburg, Ludwigsburg

Hans Peter Stihl

Albrecht Kruse (Vice President of Ludwigsburg District Chamber) SATA GmbH & Co. KG, Kornwestheim Rems-Murr District Claus Jürgen Paal (President of Rems-Murr District Chamber) Claus Paal GmbH, Weinstadt Harro Höfliger (Vice President of Rems-Murr District Chamber) Harro Höfliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH, Allmersbach im Tal

Date: March 2015

CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

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Bodies Companies determine the work of the CCI

CCI: Forum for young entrepreneurs

Through their participation in the bodies of the CCI for the Stuttgart Region, the companies play an active role in structuring the work carried out by the CCI. All member companies select the Plenary Assembly, the supreme CCI body. This is where the guidelines for the work of the CCI are determined and fundamental policy decisions taken. The Plenary Assembly elects the President and the Executive Committee with a total of 21 members and appoints the Executive Board and Managing Directors. At the District Assemblies, entrepreneurs from the districts of Böblingen, Esslingen-Nürtingen, Göppingen, Ludwigsburg and Rems-Murr are elected.

Young entrepreneurs are to be found at the Chambers of Commerce and Industry. There are Junior Chambers in Stuttgart and at all District Chambers. In the Junior Chambers are executives and entrepreneurs under the age of 40, who are committed to improving the acceptance of entrepreneurial activities in society. For this purpose they organise presentations and discussions, for example, and become involved in projects.

The CCI has 16 committees for various subject areas which are formed by the Plenary Assembly. The committee members are entrepreneurs and external experts appointed by the Plenary Assembly. They provide advice to the Plenary Assembly and the Management of the CCI and offer a forum for the exchange of experience and information. The members of all bodies of the CCI work on a voluntary basis. An overview is available at www.stuttgart.ihk.de in the “About us“ category.

Junior Chambers: CCI contacts Stuttgart: Anke Seifert, Telephone +49 (0)711 2005–1322, Fax –1327 Böblingen: Tilo Ambacher, Telephone +49 (0)7031 6201-8224, Fax -8260 Esslingen-Nürtingen: Hubert Greiner, Telephone +49 (0)7022 3008–8615, Fax –8630 Göppingen: Gernot Imgart, Telephone +49 (0)7161 6715–8431, Fax –8412 Ludwigsburg: Albrecht Lindenberger, Telephone +49 (0)7141 122–1009, Fax –1036 Rems-Murr: Oliver Kettner, Telephone +49 (0)7151 95969–8724, Fax –8726

CCI Committees Committee

Chairman (Deputy)

CCI contact

Telephone

Fax

Authorised experts

Prof. Dr. Stefan Mecheels (Prof. Dr. Michael Schmidt, Prof. Dr. Edelbert Vees)

Hans-Martin Gayer

+49 (0)7151 95969-8723

-8726

Budget

Dr. Heinz-Werner Schulte

Sabine Novak

+49 (0)711 2005-1304

-601304

Construction

Wolfgang Kiesel

Sabine Novak

+49 (0)711 2005-1304

-601304

Energy

Dr. Albrecht Reuter (Stefan Krüger, Andreas Seufer)

Dr. Hans-Jürgen Reichardt

+49 (0)711 2005-1280

-601429

Finance and taxes

Dr. Hans Maier (Andrea Pospischil)

Dieter Zwernemann

+49 (0)711 2005-1289

-1550

Foreign trade

Peter Alexander Trettin (Matthias Heinz, Steffen Hezinger, Norbert Pick)

Tassilo Zywietz

+49 (0)711 2005-1231

-1410

Healthcare industry

N. N. (Dr. Thorsten Pilgrim)

Tassilo Zywietz

+49 (0)711 2005-1231

-1410

Information technology

Michael Wilfer (Hans-Ulrich Jetter)

Dr. Hans-Jürgen Reichardt

+49 (0)711 2005-1280

-601429

IT services

Ekkehard Maurer (Gerhard Bikar)

Hilde Cost

+49 (0)711 39007-8320

-8348

Legal

Peter Bokelmann (Carsten Beisheim)

Dieter Zwernemann

+49 (0)711 2005-1289

-1550

Manufacturing industry

Dr. Bertram Kandziora (Hans-Michael Dangel)

Dr. Hans-Jürgen Reichardt

+49 (0)711 2005-1280

-601429

Services

Jürgen Treiber (Constanze Felicitas Eich, Alexander Kirchgessner)

Tassilo Zywietz

+49 (0)711 2005-1231

-1410

Tourism

Bernd Schäfer-Surén (Harald Binder, Markus Hofherr)

Tassilo Zywietz

+49 (0)711 2005-1231

-1410

Trade

Martin Windmüller (Nicole Porsch)

Marion Oker

+49 (0)7031 6201-8220

-8260

Transport

René Große-Vehne (Markus Dannenmann)

Dr. Hans-Jürgen Reichardt

+49 (0)711 2005-1280

-601429

Vocational training

Peter Schmid (Christian Friedrich)

Dr. Martin Frädrich

+49 (0)711 2005-1249

-1552

60 CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

How the CCI works

155,000 CCI-affiliated companies elect of which 48,000 are firms entered in the Commercial Register and 107,000 traders not entered in the Commercial Register.

elect

Böblingen District Assembly

forms

CCI Committees

Plenary Assembly Up to 120 members, two thirds of which come from the districts of the five District Chambers. The Plenary Assembly defines the guidelines of the work of the CCI.

Esslingen-Nürtingen District Assembly elects

appoints

Executive Committee

Management

President

Chief Executive Officer The Chief Executive Officer conducts business with the agreement of the President.

Ludwigsburg District Assembly

The President heads the CCI with the approval of the Executive Committee in accordance with the resolutions of the Plenary Assembly. He is elected directly by the Plenary Assembly.

Rems-Murr District Assembly

In addition to the President, the Executive Committee consists of 20 members, including the Presidents of the five District Chambers and their deputies.

Göppingen District Assembly

In addition to the Chief Executive Officer, the management consists of the Executive Managers of the five District Chambers and the Managing Directors of the six departments.

– Authorised experts – Budget – Construction – Energy – Finance and taxes – Foreign trade – Healthcare industry – Information technology – IT services – Legal – Manufacturing industry – Services – Tourism – Trade – Transport – Vocational training The committees advise the Plenary Assembly and management.

CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

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How the CCI is organised

President Georg Fichtner

Business field Location Policy, SMEs

Chief Executive Officer Andreas Richter Phone (0)711 2005-1285, Fax (0)711 2005-1319 [email protected]

Coordination: Christoph Nold Phone (0)711 2005-1294 Fax (0)711 2005-1319

Deputy Chief Executive Officer Bernd Engelhardt Dr. Peter Saile

Department 1

Department 2

Department 3

Department 4

Department 5

Department 6

Manufacturing Industry and Transport

Economics, Communication, QM

Professions and Qualifications

Foreign Trade and Services

Legal and Taxes

Central Services

Business fields Innovation and Environment; Business Start-ups and Enterprise Support

Business fields Media, Marketing; General Economy, Employment, Statistics

Business field Vocational and Further Training

Business field International

Business field Legal and Taxes

Business field Members, Contribution

Dr. H.-J. Reichardt Phone (0)711 2005-1280 Fax (0)711 2005-1429 industrie@stuttgart. ihk.de

Bernd Engelhardt Phone (0)711 2005-1273 Fax (0)711 2005-1327 [email protected]

Dr. Martin Frädrich Phone (0)711 2005-1246 Fax (0)711 2005-1552 ausbildung@stuttgart. ihk.de

Tassilo Zywietz Phone (0)711 2005-1231 Fax (0)711 2005-1410 [email protected]

Dieter Zwernemann Phone (0)711 2005-1289 Fax (0)711 2005-1550 [email protected]

Sabine Novak Phone (0)711 2005-1304 Fax (0)711 2005-601304 verwaltung@stuttgart. ihk.de

- Transport networks, technical infrastructure - Passenger and freight transport, logistics - Dangerous goods - Regional development - Innovation consulting - E-business - Environmental and energy advice - Contract advisory agency - Business start-ups and consolidation - Public promotion of trade and industry

- Economic policy - Securing skilled workers - Macro-economic analyses - Economic statistics - Press and public relations - CCI on the Internet - “Magazin Wirtschaft” - CCI publications and information services - Internal quality management - Stuttgart Junior Chamber

- Education policy - Cooperation between schools and business - Cooperative state Universities - Higher education policy - Commercial and technical vocational training - Arbitration body for training disputes - Further training - CCI examinations

- Exports/imports, customs - Certificates - Foreign trade traffic - Foreign trade fairs - Country information - Foreign and international law - Foreign cooperations - Services - Register of intermediaries - Tourism

- Taxes - Public finances - Economic, employment, competition law - EC law - Public law - Data protection law - Arbitration body for commercial disputes - Arbitration committee for competition disputes - Point of single contact in accordance with EC service directive

- Finances - Controlling - Contribution - Company data - Personnel - Facility management - Procurement - Central event management - CCI certificates of honour

Representative for Quality Management Oliver Kreh Phone (0)711 2005-1221 Fax (0)711 2005-1327

62 CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

Coordination of Health and Saftey at Work Tim Schlichting Phone (0)711 2005–1376, Fax (0)711 2005-601376 Representatives for Emergency Management Sabine Novak Phone (0)711 2005-1304, Fax (0)711 2005-601304 Bernd Engelhardt Phone (0)711 2005-1273, Fax (0)711 2005-1327

Examination Questions and Training Materials Development Centre PAL, Stuttgart Jürgen Siegle Phone (0)711 2005-0 Fax (0)711 2005-1830 [email protected]

Date: March 2015

Böblingen District Chamber

Ludwigsburg District Chamber

Esslingen-Nürtingen District Chamber

Göppingen District Chamber

Rems-Murr District Chamber

Böblingen

Ludwigsburg

Esslingen, Nürtingen

Göppingen

Waiblingen

Central task Trade

Central task Company information

Central task IT services

Central task Directory of training contracts

Central task Authorised experts

Marion Oker Phone (0)7031 6201-0 Fax (0)7031 6201-8260 [email protected]

Jochen Haller Phone (0)7141 122-0 Fax (0)7141 122-1035 [email protected]

Hilde Cost Phone (0)711 39007-0 Fax (0)711 39007-8330 [email protected]

Dr. Peter Saile Phone (0)7161 6715-0 Fax (0)7161 6715-8484 [email protected]

Hans-Martin Gayer Phone (0)7151 95969-0 Fax (0)7151 95969-8726 [email protected]

- Public tasks, CCI service in all business fields and representation of interests for the administrative district of Böblingen - Böblingen Junior Chamber

- Public tasks, CCI service in all business fields and representation of interests for the administrative district of Ludwigsburg - Ludwigsburg Junior Chamber

- Public tasks, CCI service in all business fields and representation of interests for the administrative district of Esslingen - Commercial training in Esslingen-Nürtingen, Göppingen - Further training in Esslingen-Nürtingen, Göppingen - Esslingen Junior Chamber

- Public tasks, CCI service in all business fields and representation of interests for the administrative district of Göppingen - Technical training in Esslingen-Nürtingen, Göppingen - Göppingen Junior Chamber

- Public tasks, CCI service in all business fields and representation of interests for the administrative district of Rems-Murr - Rems-Murr Junior Chamber

Association for the Promotion of Vocational Training VFB (Verein zur Förderung der Berufsbildung e. V.) Ludwigsburg

GARP Training Centre (GARP Bildungszentrum für die IHK Region Stuttgart e. V.) Plochingen

CCI Training House (IHK-Bildungshaus) Remshalden-Grunbach, Stuttgart

Antun N. Peters Phone (0)7141 91107-0 Fax (0)7141 91107-66 [email protected] www.ihk-vfb.de

Dr. Werner J. Waiblinger Phone (0)7153 8305-0 Fax (0)7153 8305-60 [email protected] www.garp.de

Gudrun Schürrle Phone (0)7151 7095-0 Fax (0)7151 7095-8895 [email protected] www.ihk-bildungshaus.de

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Addresses CCI Locations and Service Centres

Training Institutions

Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Stuttgart Region Jägerstraße 30, 70174 Stuttgart Postfach 102444, 70020 Stuttgart Telephone +49 (0)711 2005 -0, Fax +49(0)711 2005-1354 www.stuttgart.ihk.de [email protected]

CCI Training House (IHK-Bildungshaus) Goethestraße 31, 73630 Remshalden-Grunbach Telephone +49 (0)7151 7095-0, Fax +49 (0)7151 7095-8895 www.ihk-bildungshaus.de [email protected]

Böblingen District Chamber Steinbeisstraße 11, 71034 Böblingen Telephone +49 (0)7031 6201-0, Fax +49 (0)7031 6201-8260 [email protected] Esslingen-Nürtingen District Chamber Fabrikstraße 1, 73728 Esslingen Postfach 100347, 73703 Esslingen Telephone +49 (0)711 39007-0, Fax +49 (0)711 39007-8330 [email protected] Nürtingen Office Bismarckstraße 8-12, 72622 Nürtingen Mühlstraße 4, 72622 Nürtingen (from autumn 2015) Postfach 1420, 72604 Nürtingen Telephone +49 (0)7022 3008 -0, Fax +49 (0)7022 3008-8630 Göppingen District Chamber Franklinstraße 4, 73033 Göppingen Postfach 623, 73006 Göppingen Telephone +49 (0)7161 6715-0, Fax +49 (0)7161 6715-8484 [email protected]

Jägerstraße 30, 70174 Stuttgart Telephone +49 (0)711 2005-1555 [email protected] GARP Training Centre for the CCI for the Stuttgart Region (GARP Bildungszentrum für die IHK Region Stuttgart e. V.) Carl-Orff-Weg 11, 73207 Plochingen Telephone +49 (0)7153 8305-0, Fax+49 (0)7153 8305-60 www.garp.de [email protected] Brunnwiesenstraße 12, 73760 Ostfildern Telephone +49 (0)711 44996-0, Fax +49 (0)711 44996-60 Association for the Promotion of Vocational Training VFB (Verein zur Förderung der Berufsbildung e. V.) Kurfürstenstraße 6, 71636 Ludwigsburg Telephone +49 (0)7141 91107-0, Fax +49 (0)7141 91107-66 www.ihk-vfb.de [email protected] Hanns-Klemm-Straße 1a, 71034 Böblingen Telephone +49 (0)7031 7340-80, Fax +49 (0)7031 7340-82

PAL Ludwigsburg District Chamber Kurfürstenstraße 4, 71636 Ludwigsburg Postfach 609, 71606 Ludwigsburg Telephone +49 (0)7141 122-0, Fax +49 (0)7141 122-1035 [email protected] Rems-Murr District Chamber Kappelbergstraße 1, 71332 Waiblingen Telephone +49 (0)7151 95969-0, Fax +49 (0)7151 95969-8726 [email protected] Training Service Centre Telephone +49 (0)711 2005-1111 Business Start-up Service Centre Telephone +49 (0)711 2005-1677 Service Centre for Legal Matters Telephone +49 (0)711 2005-1688

64 CCI Annual Report 14 | 15

Examination Questions and Training Materials Development Centre PAL (Prüfungsaufgaben- und Lehrmittelentwicklungsstelle) Jägerstraße 30, 70174 Stuttgart Telephone +49 (0)711 2005-0, Fax +49 (0)711 2005-1830 www.ihk-pal.de [email protected]

Business Archive Business Archive Foundation of Baden-Württemberg (Stiftung Wirtschaftsarchiv Baden-Württemberg) Schloss Hohenheim Postfach 700562, 70574 Stuttgart Telephone +49 (0)711 459-3142, Fax +49 (0)711 459-3710 [email protected]

Masthead

Publisher

Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Stuttgart Region Jägerstraße 30, 70174 Stuttgart Postfach 10 24 44, 70020 Stuttgart Telephone +49 (0)711 2005-0 Fax +49 (0)711 2005-1354 www.stuttgart.ihk.de [email protected]

Editorial office

Department of Economics, Communication, QM Telephone +49 (0)711 2005-1286 Fax +49 (0)711 2005-1327 Bernd Engelhardt (responsible) Sigrit Walsdorff (conceptual design, processing, typesetting)

Translation Graphic concept Printed by Date ©2015

Gley Fremdsprachendienst, Berlin SANSHINE Communications GmbH, Stuttgart W. Kohlhammer Druckerei GmbH + Co. KG, Stuttgart March 24, 2015 Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Stuttgart Region All rights reserved. Reprinting or reproduction on paper and electronic media, as well as storage in data networks, only with the consent of the publisher. All information has been developed and compiled with the greatest of care. However, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Stuttgart Region does not provide any guarantee of the accuracy and completeness of the contents or any interim changes.

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