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Building
The building sector in Germany looks back on a long tradition while at the same time being a trade of the future. The construction industry is both one of the domestic economy's key industries and one of the largest economic activities in Germany and Europe. In 2007, the nominal volume of construction output in Germany totalled almost 270 billion euros and about 1.9 million people were employed in the construction industry proper and the finishing trades. Building investments accounted for 52 per cent of total gross fixed capital formation. The construction industry is also of considerable significance to the economy, growth and employment because it is inextricably linked with numerous other economic activities.
Quality
Today, a significant factor influencing the future of the construction industry in Germany is the quality of planning and building. Here, the Federal Government sets great store by productive small and medium enterprises which are quality-conscious and efficient and provide modern and sustainable building services.
The market has changed over the last few years. Quality rather than quantity is increasingly in demand. The construction industry has to address this trend and strive to become a motor of social, technical and economic innovation and thus contribute to meeting our international climate change commitments. In order to successfully tackle this challenge, it will be essential to enhance market transparency and improve cooperation along the entire value-added chain in the building sector - from the construction equipment and materials industries through the planning professions to the constructing industry and facility management service providers.
Economic aspects
Building policy is - at the same time - economic policy. Building services "Made in Germany" must be promoted more strongly on national and foreign markets and there must be ongoing efforts to continuously create new demand for such services. Sound vocational training and the acquisition of new skills by employees are the key to quality in the building sector. The aim of our building policy is to ensure a high level of investment, to speed up investments and to promote improvements in quality, advance service skills and support product and process innovations in a way that is effective.
Federal Foundation for Baukultur
The Federal Government places great emphasis on the quality of building, as for example in its quality drive in the field of architecture and Baukultur. With the Federal Foundation for Baukultur, a platform for communication on Baukultur issues has successfully been established at the federal level in Germany. The foundation aims to create broad public awareness for the prospects offered by high-quality planning and building services, as well as to publicise the high level of skill and capabilities of German architects and engineers on the world market.
