Sixty-one leading German corporations, including Airbus, BASF, BMW, and Volkswagen, launched the "Made for Germany" initiative, pledging €631 billion ($733 billion) in investment over the next three years. This investment aims to boost economic growth, strengthen competitiveness, and maintain technological leadership. The initiative, co-led by Siemens CEO Roland Busch and Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing, received strong support from Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who stated that "Germany is back. It's worth investing in Germany again." The investment will target new and existing factories, research, and development.

The initiative comes as Germany faces its third consecutive year without economic growth, following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the energy crisis. The German government, a coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD, is actively supporting this investment with plans for a €500 billion ($580 billion) special fund for infrastructure and climate protection, alongside tax relief for businesses. However, challenges remain, including reforming Germany's social security system, which the OECD identifies as the country's biggest challenge. The government plans to address this in the coming months.

Impact Statement: The "Made for Germany" initiative represents a significant effort to revitalize the German economy and address its current challenges, though the success of this initiative depends on further government reforms and addressing long-term structural issues.