Industrial Sites in Saarland Attract Investors

Saarbrücken, February 7th, 2012

The Saarland is attractive for investors according to the balance on Saarland´s industrial sites for the year 2011. Following the information of the Saarland Economics Ministry and gwSaar Saarland Economic Promotion Corporation, a whole series of surfaces and partial areas in Saarland were sold to investors last year. In 2011, 27 new industrial settlements and three company expansions were supported by gwSaar – 40 % more successfully finished industrial relocation projects than in the year before. To believe Economics Minister Peter Jacoby, the Saarland Government will even intensify the development and marketing of surfaces this year, especially with regard to the two major projects `Zunderbaum` in Homburg/Kirkel and `Lisdorfer Berg` in Saarlouis.

Moreover, Jacoby pronounced himself for a faster flow of capital from the promotion of economic development than in the preceding years. Jacoby: `The promotion of economic development on a high level, attractive industrial and commercial sites and a well-developed infrastructure – these are the pillars of a healthy growth of the economy. With the consequent and effective realization of the Masterplan Industrieflächen we will also in the future attract investors to Saarland.`

The topical analysis of commercial sites is based on the Internet platform GEWISS, standing for `Gewerbeflächen-Informations-System Saar` .Here, all existing and available industrial and commercial sites in Saarland are registered  – and this always topically. `GEWISS is always up-to-date, complete and reliable`, says the geographer and former lecturer at the Saarland University Dr. Bruno Aust. He has been engaged in the project since its beginnings and is responsible for the annual update of the database. In doing so, new surfaces are added in a cartographically exact form and registered together with the respective building law regulations. Furthermore, the information regarding ownership structure and availability of a site is matched with the community and marked correspondingly. The present data as of January 2012 has just been put online.

With the help of GEWISS, investors searching for available industrial or commercial sites will quickly find them. Besides topical information on size, geographical position and availability, the Internet portal www.gewiss-saarland.de also offers satellite pictures of the surfaces.

All in all, the balance on sites 2011 shows that numerous surfaces and partial areas were sold. However, the sales volume in the individual cities and communities was quite differing. Following GEWISS, there is still a lack in large GI surfaces (> 10 ha) on short-term availability – a size which investors are preferrably asking for. `The high demand shows how important the development of new industrial areas is`, says the Managing Director of gwSaar, Thomas Schuck. `Therefore, the Saarland Government has established the Masterplan Industrieflächen Saarland providing for six large, well-developed industrial sites with a total of over 400 ha in size.` Contrary to this, an adequate number of smaller GE surfaces is available also short-termedly.

For 2011, it can be stated that slightly more than 200 commercial sites with a total of 452 available surfaces existed. This corresponds to a total area of 10 km2  . Against 2010, the number of sites on short-term availability has dropped by roughly 10 %.

GEWISS in detail:
A search is possible on different criteria such as administrative district, community or area size. The search results show areas with short-term availability – i.e. availablility within three months – but also surfaces to be developed in the medium or long run. If the user chooses an area from the list of results, the map will zoom to a detailed view. Here, more site information such as name of site, number and designation according to the building law can be found. One strongpoint of the Internet platform is its easy handling. Contrary to traditional GIS systems, the user only needs some knowledge in Google and Google Maps to get detailed information with a few mouseclicks only.

GEWISS aims at investors on the search for suitable commercial or industrial sites. However, also institutions promoting the ieconomic development in Saarland, e.g. gwSaar, SBB, regional and communal authorities, can access the Internet page in order to quickly and comprehensively answer inquiries of potential investors in Saarland.

GEWISS is an offer of the Saarland Economic Promotion Corporation (gwSaar) and is realized by gwSaar´s affiliate Saarland Development Corporation (SBB). The project is supported by the Ministry of Economics and Science.

Reposted from gwSaar.com
CONTACT:
SBB Saarland Bau und Boden Projektgesellschaft mbH
ATRIUM Haus der Wirtschaftsförderung
Franz-Josef-Röder-Straße 17
66119 Saarbrücken
Germany

Phone:  +49 0681 / 9965 257
Fax:      +49 0681 / 9965 174
E-Mail:   infosbb-saar.de

Site Information:
Martina Salerno-Schwarz
E-Mail: salerno-schwarzsbb-saar.de
http://www.gewiss-saarland.de

IN SHORT: gwSaar Saarland Economic Promotion Corporation
The Saarland Economic Promotion Corporation (gwSaar) promotes the business location Saarland in Germany and abroad. With its worldwide network of partners and its high branch- and locational expertise, gwSaar supports investors in all aspects regarding the  relocaton management – from planning to project steering, support in authorization processes to the provision of turnkey properties. gwSaar´s close cooperation with its affiliates Saarland Development Corporation (SBB), Saarland Planning and Construction Corporation (LEG Saar) and Wohnungsgesellschaft Saar (WOGE Saar) assures a one-stop-shopping service for investors.

For more information see www.invest-in-saarland.com.