Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce
Encyclopedia
The Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag, DIHK, formerly: Deutscher Industrie- und Handelstag, DIHT) is the apex organisation of 80 regional chambers of commerce and industry (IHK) in Germany
. All enterprises and individual businesses registered in Germany are required by law to join a chamber, with the exception of skilled craftsmen, freelancer
s and agricultural businesses.
The regional chambers represent more than three million enterprises, including multi-national companies but also small retailers and innkeepers. This gives the association considerable political influence. It does not represent any specific corporate group but all commercial enterprises in Germany.
The largest regional chamber of commerce is the Munich and Upper Bavaria Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK München und Oberbayern) with about 350,000 members.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. All enterprises and individual businesses registered in Germany are required by law to join a chamber, with the exception of skilled craftsmen, freelancer
Freelancer
A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long term. These workers are often represented by a company or an agency that resells their labor and that of others to its clients with or without project management and...
s and agricultural businesses.
The regional chambers represent more than three million enterprises, including multi-national companies but also small retailers and innkeepers. This gives the association considerable political influence. It does not represent any specific corporate group but all commercial enterprises in Germany.
The largest regional chamber of commerce is the Munich and Upper Bavaria Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK München und Oberbayern) with about 350,000 members.