What advantages do you see in the development of the Airport Region Berlin Brandenburg and what role does BER Airport play in it?
Brandenburg and Berlin have developed into a significant economic and technological region in Germany and Europe. The region is attractive – for investments as well as for workforce, who find excellent career opportunities here. The major challenges of our time – modern mobility, energy transition, and sustainable development – find answers here.
BER acts as the gateway of the capital region to the world. And the surrounding Airport Region is an economic powerhouse that generates jobs and enhances the quality of life for residents.
With more than 1,100 investments and over 50,000 new jobs in the past ten years, the Airport Region Berlin Brandenburg shows remarkable economic dynamism. This development will continue to drive economic growth in the future and further strengthen the position of the German capital region as a business location.
How does BER affect job development in the region and what long-term effects do you expect?
Years ago, looking at the development of other international airport regions, up to 40,000 new jobs were forecasted in the economic environment of BER. This might even be an underestimate in the long run.
An international airport like BER on the doorstep is a significant location advantage for global companies. This will also benefit the capital region in future settlements and investments.
The trans-European transport corridors to which BER is connected create a wide-reaching impact across the entire state of Brandenburg.
What economic developments have you observed since the airport opened, and what role does proximity to BER play?
Even before the opening of BER, we saw strong demand for investments in our region. With the opening of the airport, international visibility has significantly increased, boosting attractiveness for companies. Not without reason, Elon Musk cited proximity to BER as an important reason for announcing the Tesla Gigafactory in Brandenburg.
Investments like the Tesla Gigafactory and BER are structurally defining. They act as economic engines for the entire region over the years. Tesla has now become the largest industrial employer in Brandenburg with over 11,000 jobs. Additionally, a new value chain in electromobility, especially in battery technology, is emerging in the state. Brandenburg is now a center of modern mobility in Germany.
The international perception of Brandenburg and investor interest have increased enormously since Tesla's settlement. This radiates not only into the Brandenburg regions but also to Berlin and all of East Germany. Just as significant a growth engine as Tesla is the BER environment, which is continually developing. This development will continue, as the conditions for it are excellent.
Is there cross-border cooperation in the airport environment?
Yes, and it has been for many years. Brandenburg and Berlin jointly promote the BER environment. This is a real advantage in international location competition.
The economic development agencies of Brandenburg and Berlin Partner established the “Airport Region Team” – ART – 16 years ago. In this team, employees of both organizations work together.
Besides trade fairs or the joint central internet portal www.airport-region.de, the ART has organized a “brand alliance” with almost 50 partners from companies, economic development agencies, and municipalities in the region. This increases the visibility of the BER environment and intensifies cooperation between the federal states.
Can you share some experiences of other entrepreneurs in our region and based on that, what would you advise new companies?
In our region, there is a strong willingness for networking and cooperation. This is particularly evident in the strong economic clusters of the capital region, supported by the economic development agencies of Brandenburg and Berlin. New companies should take advantage of these networks, actively engage in the community, and develop joint innovative projects.
The Airport Region Team, along with cluster management in the economic development agencies of both federal states, can also help in this regard.
We would like to thank Dr. Steffen Kammradt for the interview.