On Wednesday, January 31, the state capital Düsseldorf and the state's trade and investment agency NRW.Global Business hosted the traditional New Year's reception for the Chinese business community. Düsseldorf's Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller, Andreas Machwirth, Head of the Department of Economic Development and Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Düsseldorf, Chunguo Du, welcomed around 160 guests, including numerous representatives of Chinese companies and institutions from Düsseldorf and North Rhine-Westphalia, at the Hilton Hotel.
The number of investment projects from China has remained stable. A number of new companies from Greater China with innovative technologies and business models have also decided to locate in NRW. This means that around 1,100 companies from Greater China are currently based in North Rhine-Westphalia, with almost 630 of them in the state capital Düsseldorf.
The partnership between the two states focuses clearly on projects of mutual interest – especially sustainable future technologies. For example, the steel specialist Zhejiang Jiuli Hi-Tech Metals from Zhejiang province is setting up its German and European headquarters in Kreuztal and has taken over a local steel pipe manufacturer. This move is expected to create 110 new jobs. Hangke Technology, also from Zhejiang, is expanding its branch office in Düsseldorf into its European headquarters, creating 50 new jobs. The company supplies charging components for electric cars and also conducts research and development. The turbine manufacturer CSIC Longjiang GH Gas Turbine from Heilongjiang Province has taken over an existing German company in Oberhausen and will create around 90 new jobs. The Oberhausen site will develop new products and technologies in the field of small and medium-sized gas turbines. The focus will be on hydrogen and ammonia combustion.
EcoFlow, a manufacturer of mobile energy storage systems, has also established a base in Düsseldorf and is selling its products in Europe with a newly formed team. The same applies to Aiko Energy, a manufacturer of photovoltaic products, and Jackery.
In addition, ZCC Cutting Tools, a machining technology specialist, celebrated its 20th anniversary in Düsseldorf and now operates a state-of-the-art test and demonstration center as well as a logistics center with 75 employees. In addition, the German-Chinese Business Association has been based back in Düsseldorf since 2023.