The Stuttgart region attracts companies from outside the state: Between 2005 and 2008, many companies, particularly from Bavaria, North Rhine Westphalia and Hessen, moved to the state capital and environs, including service providers, construction companies and retail traders. Just after the millennium, the balance was still negative. The region had lost around 170 companies by 2004 but, in the following four years, it gained just under 300 new ones. What is especially striking is the fact that the number of companies in Stuttgart initially remained stable. From 2000 to 2004, in contrast, just under 500 entrepreneurs left the state capital for neighbouring districts.

Whether a company stays at one location for a long time or a new one comes into it is decided not only by the price of real estate, the potential market and the transport infrastructure but also by offers of regional economic support. "The local communities are slowly waking up and, especially in Stuttgart, a lot has already happened", said local president of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Herbert Müller. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce has now examined the movement of companies for the third time. Looking back, said Müller, "the region has become more attractive as a location for business". However, the local communities should not rest on their laurels. Müller expects that the competition to attract new companies will continue to intensify.

From 2005 to 2008, a total of around 7,500 mostly small firms changed their location, with 3,400 leaving their local community. Thirteen per cent of all the companies that moved left the region entirely. With new companies arriving, all the districts with the exception of Göppingen have been able to more than make up for their losses. Esslingen has been the biggest winner.

Source: Stuttgarter Nachrichten