Business · Companies · 4 hrs ago
Germany hosts investment summit to attract private capital
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz opened an investment summit in Berlin to attract more private money to the country.
The government invited business leaders, banks and investment funds, with about 200 executives expected at the main conference.
Germany wants private investors to help fund modernization, including infrastructure, cleaner production, factories, research and software.
The government is already committing public money, but economists warn that this alone will not ensure a lasting recovery.
Investment in Germany fell 6.4% from 2019 to 2025, while it rose in the rest of the eurozone and the United States.
High energy costs, taxes and bureaucracy are among the reasons investors have held back, and the government says reforms are needed.
The summit aims to turn its welcome message into concrete investments, with industrial artificial intelligence among the areas seen as promising.
Germany opened its first investment summit in Berlin to attract more private investment from Germany and abroad.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz told investors that Germany was open for business and ready to grow faster.
The summit’s opening event took place at a former power station in Berlin-Mitte, with Nvidia chief Jensen Huang as a guest.
About 200 German and international chief executives were invited to the main conference on Tuesday.
The government wants private capital to help fund modernisation, including investment in infrastructure, production and industrial artificial intelligence.
- Who
- The German government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, hosted the summit for investors and business leaders. Nvidia chief Jensen Huang was a prominent guest.
- What
- Germany held its first investment summit to encourage private investment.
- When
- The opening event was on Monday evening, October 19, 2026. The main conference was scheduled for Tuesday.
- Where
- Berlin, including a former power station in Berlin-Mitte for the opening and the ESMT business school for the main conference.
- Why
- The government wants to mobilise private capital for modernisation and economic growth, and to attract concrete investments.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Merz met business representatives from the Made for Germany initiative and discussed continuing the government’s reform programme.
The summit opened with an evening event at a former power station in Berlin-Mitte, featuring Merz and Nvidia chief Jensen Huang.
The main conference was scheduled to take place at ESMT in Berlin, with about 200 German and international chief executives invited.
- Summit
- Germany’s first investment summit
- Opening venue
- Former power station in Berlin-Mitte
- Main venue
- ESMT business school at Schlossplatz, Berlin
- Invited business leaders
- Around 200 German and international chief executives
- Investment trend
- Total investment in Germany fell 6.4% from 2019 to 2025
- Investment barriers
- High energy costs, taxes and contributions, and excessive bureaucracy
8 sources
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What people are saying
Germany is open for investment, Germany is open for business – and Germany is ready to grow faster.
Germany faces a historic investment task.
Government investment can provide the initial push. But we will only be successful in the long term if we also mobilise private capital on a large scale.
Industrial AI is a once-in-a-century opportunity for Germany.