Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce
The German Industry and Commerce ( DIHK) - formerly German Industry and Commerce (DIHT ) - is the umbrella organization of the 80 German Chambers of Industry and Commerce. On behalf of and in consultation with the Chambers of DIHK takes over the representation of the total commercial German business sector decision makers in the federal policy and the European institutions. He also coordinated the work of the global network of the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad ( AHK ). He has the legal status of a registered association. Members of the DIHK are industry and commerce, which are public bodies themselves. Seat of the DIHK is the House of German Business in Berlin.
Activity
The IHK organization backed by its economic policy positions before the central annual proposals for growth and employment. The economic policy positions for key fields of action include a representation of the initial situation and the main political demands.
Since 1958, the DIHK is also represented in Brussels to influence European legislation on the spot. The seat is at the House of European chambers, in which the European Federation Euro Chambres is encountered.
President
At the top of the DIHK the President is:
GCIC vice presidents are Paul Bauwens -Adenauer, Peter Esser, Fritz Horst Melsheimer and Klaus Olbricht. Since November 2001, Martin Wansleben is chief executive. He succeeded Franz Schoser. Deputies are Achim Dercks and Volker Treier.
Memberships
The DIHK is a member of the European Movement.
History
The history of the DIHK begins on May 13, 1861 constituted as representatives of chambers of commerce in the territory of the German Customs Union in Heidelberg " German General Trading Day" (DHT). The lasting until May 18 meeting had come to an initiative of Theodor Frey concluded. At that time were the unification of different weights and measures, the abolition of customs barriers and the introduction of a uniform commercial code in the center of the association's activities. 1918, named the DHT into " German Industry and Commerce " ( DIHT ).
In the Middle High German legal language means " day " appointment, meeting, negotiation.
In the wake of the Nazi Gleichschaltung, the DIHT lost its independence as a trade association and was incorporated in 1935 as a working group of industry and commerce in the Empire Chamber of Commerce.
April 20, 1942 the Board resigned in protest against DC circuit measures the Nazis, the DIHT was dissolved.
After the war ended in 1945, the industry and commerce its operations resumed. From the regional groupings of the West German zones occupied by the German Industry and Commerce was re-established in 1949 in Ludwigshafen. In 1950, the location of the DIHT was moved to the federal capital, Bonn. Since its re-establishment, the DIHT known to the social market economy.
1965 moved into the DIHT a new building in the Koblenzerstraße 148, later Adenauer Allee, that was his workplace to October 1999.
With the fall of the Wall in 1989 started in 1990, also in East Germany independent IHKs who made a significant contribution to the transition from a planned to a market economy and the emergence of free enterprise.
June 20, 1991, the DIHT decided his move to the capital Berlin. On 4 October 1999, the seat was moved to the House of German Business in Berlin, since 2001 the association bears its present name " German Industry and Commerce " ( DIHK). On 23 March 2011 the DIHK celebrated his 150th birthday in the presence of Federal President Christian Wulff.