Basic objectives
Partnership – Presentation of the Main Partner regions
Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport, Technology
(Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft, Infrastruktur, Transport und Technology)
Prinzregentenstraße 24
80525 München
Germany
www.stmwivt.bayern.de
More than 12.3 Mio. people live in Bavaria, situated in the southeast of Germany. With an area of 70,550 km², Bavaria is the largest state of the Federal Republic. Large areas of Bavaria's landscape are characterised by agriculture and forestry. The attractiveness of the Alps, the low mountain ranges in the East as well as the numerous lakes make tourism one of the most important factors for the development of the rural areas.
Characteristics of the Bavarian economy
Over the past decades Bavaria has evolved from a predominantly agrarian country into a modern industrial state with an advanced economic structure. Major international companies, numerous small and medium-size businesses, thriving craft trades and efficient service industries build Bavaria's economy. Although Bavaria is still the main food-producer in the Federal Republic of Germany, agriculture today accounts for only 1 percent of the gross domestic product. Bavaria has become one of the leading regions in Europe with regard to new technologies - information technology, space technology, biotechnology and genetic engineering, as well as environmental technologies. More than two-thirds of all economic activities are carried out in the service sector, with the banking and insurance industry and, above all, tourism playing an important role.
Border regions and Bavaria's regional policy
Due to their peripheral position within a country, border-regions often suffer from structural deficits, e.g. an undiversified industry, unemployment rate increase, lack of adequate traffic connections to business centres at home and abroad, etc.
The political circumstances in Germany until the end of the eighties added to the peripheral situation of the border regions both within Germany and within the European Union. For decades, it has been the objective of regional planning in Bavaria to create and ensure an equal standard of living and equal chances for the citizens for all parts of life throughout all parts of the region on the basis of a sustainable development. The Bavarian regional policy, especially with regard to regional planning has therefore put a certain emphasis on compensating the structural disadvantages of border regions by applying development programmes for business and infrastructure (e. g. highways and universities) as well as regional management and marketing programmes to initiate economic growth and improve the living and working conditions of the population there. Furthermore, it is a particular concern of the Bavarian government to build up close cross-border relations with its neighbouring countries to solve common problems in the field of transport, environmental protection, economy, etc. but also to establish cultural and social networks to deepen the idea of an European citizenship on the regional and local level.
Bavaria is member of several cross-border initiatives, working groups (ARGE) and Euregios:
- Arbeitsgemeinschaft Alpenländer (ARGE ALP)
- Arbeitsgemeinschaft Donauländer (ARGE Donau)
- Euregio Bayerischer Wald-Böhmerwald-Unterer Inn (D-CZ-A)
- Euregio Egrensis (D-CZ
- Euregio Salzburg-Berchtesgadener Land-Traunstein (D-A)
- Euregio Inn-Salzach (D-A)
- Euregio Inntal (D-A)
- Euregio Zugspitze-Karwendel-Wetterstein (D-A)
With regard to INTERREG, Bavaria participates in the three strands A, B and C:
INTERREG III A - Bavaria-Czechia: The overall objective is to develop the border area of Bavaria and the Czech Republic to become a residential, natural and economic region with a future.
INTERREG III A - Alpenrhein-Bodensee-Hochrhein (A-D-CH-LI): The overall objective is to develop an attractive common economic and living area and an efficient infrastructure.
INTERREG III A - Austria- Germany/Bavaria: The overall objective is to enhance the attractiveness of the border area to live and work in, to develop a cross-border economic area and to secure business possibilities.
INTERREG III B Programmes: Bavaria is partner in three programmes:
- Alpine Space
- CADSES
- Northwestern Europe
Stand: 11.10.2007
