Our Mission

Opinion Maker
The BDI enters the political discourse at an early stage. It pools different opinions, creates a balance of interest in cooperation with its member federations and is therefore able to provide politics with coordinated, representative positions. This is essential for democratic decisionmaking. The BDI also contributes to this process by helping to shape the opinions of the wider public. The President of the BDI and the other entrepreneurs involved give the BDI a high media profile.

Service Provider
The BDI supplies information and advice on economic policy for all issues related to industry and thereby supports enterprises in global competition. The BDI is able to draw on a far-reaching network in Germany and Europe, in all important markets and international organisations. It ensures that penetration into international markets is flanked with appropriate political support. The BDI also deals with issues that individual companies cannot address at a conceptual level, ranging from municipal finances to corporate governance, from the Kyoto Process to European integration and the world trade talks.

Political Advisor
The BDI is regarded as a leading centre of competence for economic policy in the Federal Republic of Germany. It has a unique concentration of expertise, thanks to the knowledge of the businessmen, who work for the BDI on a voluntary basis, and that of the enterprises, member federations, regional offices, and the staff in Berlin, Brussels, London, Washington and Tokyo. This expertise makes the BDI a legitimate and well-tuned advisor to politics.

A Shaping Force
The BDI measures its success according to the extent to which its positions are implemented in politics. It nurtures contacts to government leaders and EU Commissioners, to parties, members of parliament and ministries, to scientists, academics and diplomats. The credibility of the BDI is founded on cross-party, objective argumentation. The BDI exerts its influence on the democratic process in a transparent way. As a shaping force, the BDI feels responsible for social items, such as arts, education and immigration policies. The BDI actively supports exemplary corporate ethics and confers distinction on companies committed to public welfare in an outstanding way.