Well-known foreign companies in NRW
Every year, more and more multinational enterprises decide to invest in North Rhine-Westphalia. According to the ORBIS Europe company database, more than 24,000 foreign companies have already established business operations in NRW. This equates to one fifth of all multinational enterprises in Germany as a whole. Here you can find an overview of the multinational enterprises in NRW.
International companies in NRW at a glance
Netherlands / 4,000 companies
e.g. Bassell Polyolefine GmbH, Gazelle, Picnic FCA, Primagas Energie, Refresco Deutschland, Seacon Logistics, Suntjens Süsswaren, 247 TailorSteel
USA / 1,700 companies
e.g. 3M, Amazon, Electronic Arts, FedEx, Ford, Medtronic, Microsoft, QVC, UPS
UK / 1,600 companies
e.g. BP, Computacenter, Dyson, Lush, Vodafone
Switzerland / 1,600 companies
e.g. Geberit Keramik, Lindt & Sprüngli, Lonza, Odlo Logistik, Oerlikon, Rolex
France / 1,100 companies
e.g. Air Liquide, Bonduelle, Decathlon, L‘Oréal, Peugeot, Renault, Saint Gobain Rigips, Teleperformance, Total
PR China* / 1,000 companies
e.g. Hisense, Huawei, Minmetals, WISCO, XCMG, ZCC Cutting Tools, ZTE
Austria / 900 companies
e.g. Benteler, Hasco Hasenclever, Müllers Mühle, Papstar, Strabag, Voestalpine
Türkiye / 850 companies
e.g. Efes Deutschland, Gökbora, Karaca Porzellan, Kässbohrer/Tirsan, Sarar, Tadim
Japan* / 650 companies
e.g. Alps Electric, Asahi Kasei, Canon, Fujifilm, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Toshiba, Toyota
Italy / 580 companies
e.g. Barilla, Calzedonia Germany, Diesel Deutschland, Elettronica, R.D.M. Arnsberg, TX Logistik
Sweden / 430 companies
e.g. Atlas Copco, Ericsson, Ikea, SANDVIK Tooling Deutschland, Securitas
Poland* / 360 companies
e.g. Amica International, Draftex Automotive, FLT-Wälzlager, Hoesch Design, Kronos
Denmark / 260 companies
e.g. Arla Foods, Grundfos, ISS Facility Services, NKT, Only Stores Germany
Israel / 160 companies
e.g. BTN Baran Telecom Networks, Constab Polyolefin Addivtives, Calorplast Wärmetechnik, Diva Fashions, Polytex Technologies
Finland / 130 companies
e.g. Kemira, Metso, Outokumpu Nirosta, Stora Enso Paper, UPM Kymmene/Rhein Papier
India / 110 companies
e.g. Ashok Leyland, Bharat Forge, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Steel Germany, Wipro Business
Norway / 100 companies
e.g. Hydro Aluminium, MHWirth, Statkraft Markets, SuperOffice, Tomra Systems
Taiwan* / 100 companies
e.g. Asus Computer, Benq Deutschland, QCG Computer
Korea* / 60 companies
e.g. Bixolon, Clark Europe, CTR Europe, Doosan Lentjes, GigaTera EU, EH Med, Hwacheon Machinery Europe, Seegene Germany
* own investigation
Sources: ORBIS WORLD, August 2024; NRW.Global Business GmbH
Outstanding investment projects in NRW
Alongside the many compelling economic and infrastructure-related arguments in favor of North Rhine-Westphalia, NRW stands out on account of its cosmopolitan atmosphere and hospitality. Cultural diversity is a defining feature of NRW. For example, Cologne has a broad-based Chinese infrastructure (medical professionals, service providers, schools etc.). Over the past 150 years of lively economic and cultural exchange with Japan, Europe’s third largest Japanese community has emerged in the city of Düsseldorf. Due to these favorable conditions, foreign investors feel at home in NRW, both culturally and economically.
Fujifilm Europe
Having started out as a pioneer of analog photography, the Japanese Fujifilm Group has reinvented itself as a high-tech company in many areas following a successful turnaround: from medical imaging and medical IT to highly developed printing systems and materials for the electronics industry. Based in North Rhine-Westphalia since 1966, the Group moved into its new European headquarters in Ratingen in 2022, thereby declaring a clear commitment to the location. With around 300 employees, Fujifilm Europe also provides important stimuli for the company's five other locations in North Rhine-Westphalia. And for climate protection: Fujifilm plans to achieve complete decarbonization by 2040.
Coding Giants
Founded in 2015, the Polish start-up Coding Giants has quickly developed into a leading provider in the EdTech sector. With an innovative e-learning platform and programming school, the company offers young people between the ages of 7 and 19 the opportunity to learn how to program computer games, mobile applications, websites and 3D graphics in a fun way. The aim is to get talented young people interested in new technologies at an early age and secure skilled workers in the long term. Coding Giants has also been on a strong expansion course in North Rhine-Westphalia since 2023: The company coordinates strategic alignment in Germany and Western Europe from its Düsseldorf base with up to 40 employees. Coding Giants is already working with a school in Mönchengladbach on a pilot project for the planned training network.
Rivian
The US company Rivian develops, produces and sells electric delivery vans and SUVs and is considered one of the most promising startups in the industry in the USA. With its Electric Delivery Van (EDV) specially developed for Amazon, Rivian intends to electrify the Amazon fleet with 100,000 vehicles by 2030 and make a significant contribution to the mobility revolution in the transportation sector. Around 400 of the futuristic-looking vehicles are already driving on roads across Germany in Düsseldorf, Berlin and Munich. Due to the numerous Amazon locations in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rivian has opened its first permanent service center in Germany for vehicle maintenance in Neuss.
