Saxony-Anhalt is a region located on the eastern side of Germany. It is a location with a strong industrial tradition, particularly in mechanical and automotive engineering.

As well as engineering-based production, the region has become a popular base for call center operations. It also has an active food sector with a number of well-known food companies having their roots and headquarters in the area, including the chocolate-manufacturing firm Halloren Schokoladenfabrik, Nestle, Erasco, Coca-Cola and Schwan's. The food sector has grown to such an extent that it has now assumed the leading role in industry.

The state is home to 136 research centers, university institutes, technical college faculties, Fraunhofer Institutes, Max Planck Institutes, and innovative research facilities aimed at mechanical engineering.

Thueringen is at the center of the reunited Germany. The state's infrastructure has been completely rebuilt and is now state-of-the-art. The installed fiber-optic cable network is one of the most dense and technically advanced in Europe.

A number of business parks have been developed in the region with a specific industry focus for chemical corporations, microelectronics and optoelectronics companies.

Thueringen offers potential investors a young and highly trained workforce. Two out of three workers are younger than 45 years old and many are technically trained. Four nearby universities, seven colleges and 19 research facilities are the breeding ground for excellent qualifications, ideas and innovation. Universities such as the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena and the Bauhaus University in Weimar enjoy a worldwide reputation. The TU Ilmenau is said to be in the top European level of technical universities.  

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	Michael Bätz Chairman	Ernst & Young GmbH 04109  Leipzig Michael.Baetz@de.ey.com