North Rhine-Westphalia
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(© DZT/Andrew Cowin)
North Rhine-Westphalia is far and away the most populous federal state. It is also top of the economic league table; citizens in this federal state generate almost a quarter of the Federal Republic of Germany’s gross domestic product. Numerous large firms are based here, alongside around 450,000 small and medium-sized businesses.
In the past coal and steel used to be the predominant economic sectors, particularly in the Ruhr district. The chemical industry, various cutting-edge technologies and the service sector, to mention just a few examples, have all gained ground. The vital energy of businesses here, manifested in economic revival, and good transport infrastructure have contributed to this transformation.
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(© DZT/Jochen Keute)
A further cornerstone of progress is also the close cooperation between the worlds of business, academia and research: 49 universities and colleges offer well over 400,000 young people an opportunity to study.
Other factors drawing people to North Rhine-Westphalia and its capital, Düsseldorf, include the varied and attractive landscape and one of the world’s densest clusters of cultural attractions: 23 symphony orchestras, 72 theatres and 200 museums offer unparalleled cultural diversity.
With kind permission of the Bundesrat (September 2010)
