Niedersachsen International Offices
Published on 22 February 2019
Germany
Hannover
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
Promoting international entrepreneurship is a high priority in the region of Niedersachsen’s economic policy but doing business in another country can be particularly challenging. Finding the right advice and more importantly the right contacts in your target international market can be very difficult.
In recent years state offices and partnerships have been set up around the world to provide help to Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) companies with exporting. Whilst this type of representation is not uncommon for different countries, the Lower Saxony approach shows that even federal states or regions can have an effective international presence. Lower Saxony has representatives in in China, the USA and Iran in addition to offices in Russia, Poland, South Africa, Turkey and one office for the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Another is responsible for Cuba and the Caribbean. Many of these overseas posts offer sector-specific information so they can be the best point of contact for businesses in those markets.
These overseas posts offer the following to companies:
• General Information about the target country
• Advice & guidance concerning the current political/ economic situation
• Facilitation of business contacts and political contacts
• Help in finding the right business partners.
These international posts allow the state of Niedersachsen to support its regional businesses with its own international network of business centres and support part
In recent years state offices and partnerships have been set up around the world to provide help to Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) companies with exporting. Whilst this type of representation is not uncommon for different countries, the Lower Saxony approach shows that even federal states or regions can have an effective international presence. Lower Saxony has representatives in in China, the USA and Iran in addition to offices in Russia, Poland, South Africa, Turkey and one office for the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Another is responsible for Cuba and the Caribbean. Many of these overseas posts offer sector-specific information so they can be the best point of contact for businesses in those markets.
These overseas posts offer the following to companies:
• General Information about the target country
• Advice & guidance concerning the current political/ economic situation
• Facilitation of business contacts and political contacts
• Help in finding the right business partners.
These international posts allow the state of Niedersachsen to support its regional businesses with its own international network of business centres and support part
Resources needed
The represantatives are commercial organizations that are supported by the federal state of Lower-Saxony for basic services but when they are working for a certain company, these two negotiate their degree of services and also the fees.
Evidence of success
Evidence of the success is given at the annual events in Lower-Saxony as well as on the websites of the different representations.
Potential for learning or transfer
If a region or federal state has identified regions that are of special interest for local SMEs or markets, that are of special importance for the services/ products, it is a benefit for the local SMEs, if they are supported like this by ‘their home’. This makes clear that it has identified the needs of the local economy and is in a real exchange with them.
The representatives have made a pledge to work for the federal state and support local businesses and as they are not only abroad to give counsel on the spot but also present in Lower—Saxony, where they give a one-on-one counsel for free without the need for longer traveling, this is an offer made to SMEs that has a very low inhibition threshold.
The representatives have made a pledge to work for the federal state and support local businesses and as they are not only abroad to give counsel on the spot but also present in Lower—Saxony, where they give a one-on-one counsel for free without the need for longer traveling, this is an offer made to SMEs that has a very low inhibition threshold.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Loxer Saxon State Chancellery
Germany
Hannover