Germany’s New Business Strategy: Martin Blessing on Industry, Innovation and Growth

How can Germany remain an attractive destination for international business expansions? Martin Blessing, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’ point man on investments and foreign business expansions explains how the country is positioning itself in a changing global economy, and why Germany is still central for companies looking to scale up in Europe.

Germany is adapting its investment strategy in response to global competition, technological change and shifting industrial dynamics. In this episode of Into Germany, we speak with Martin Blessing, former CEO of Commerzbank and, since late 2025, government commissioner and chairman of the supervisory board of Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI).

He explains how the country aims to strengthen its position as a location for industry, innovation and sustainable growth. We explore what makes Germany attractive for today’s growth-hungry international companies – from its strong industrial base to emerging sectors such as AI and space technologies – and where structural challenges still need to be addressed.

Our guest: Martin Blessing is a German banker and business executive. He served as CEO of Commerzbank from 2008 to 2016 and held senior roles at UBS and McKinsey. In late 2025, he was appointed commissioner and chairman of the supervisory board of Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), where he is responsible for the strategic oversight of Germany’s investment promotion efforts.