Companies pledge nearly $900B in investments in Germany by 2028: Merz

Ayhan Simsek

Leading companies have pledged to invest more than €800 billion ($898 billion) in Germany by 2028, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Tuesday.

Speaking at the Invest in Germany summit in Berlin, Merz said his government is committed to an ambitious reform and modernization drive to support companies investing in the country.

“Companies that are part of the Made for Germany initiative, with many representatives present today here, have pledged to invest over €800 billion by 2028,” he said.

Merz addressed around 200 German and international business leaders and investors at the summit.

He said the planned investments would cover automation, robotics, defense, optics, photonics, fusion technology, quantum computing and the health industry.

“These are the kinds of projects that will ensure our long-term productivity gains and growth,” he added.

The chancellor said his coalition government would continue measures to provide tax relief for companies investing in Germany, ensure cheaper and more reliable energy, and cut red tape.

He also pledged reforms to labor market rules and the pension system to improve the country’s investment environment.

Merz said Germany is already seeing the first positive effects of these policies, with economic growth accelerating in 2026 despite mounting geopolitical pressures and rising energy prices.

“Just last week, the IMF raised its growth projection for Germany up to 1.3% for this year, and expects this trend to continue into 2027,” he said.

The chancellor also pointed to a significant increase in foreign direct investment.

“Compared to 2024, we saw Foreign Direct Investment up by around 50% in 2025, reaching €86 billion,” he said.

Merz told investors that Germany offers “a unique combination of industrial excellence, technological innovation, and access to the world’s largest single market.”

He invited companies to bring their capital, ideas, technology and entrepreneurial experience to Germany, promising that his government would do everything possible to create favorable conditions for investors.