Mixed mood in Cannes
16.03.2026 – Offenbach continues to develop positively as a business location: with over 53,700 jobs, there are more jobs here than there have been for 51 years. New companies such as BYD and Lorenz Snacks have relocated their corporate headquarters or their German headquarters to Offenbach in order to grow here, while the new headquarters of Samson AG marks the return of world-leading industrial production to Offenbach.
This also has a positive financial impact: At 135 million euros, the city set a new record for trade tax revenue in 2025. This broke a decades-long downward trend - contrary to the trend throughout Germany. Offenbach was recently named the most dynamic city in Germany in the IVAR score - and Helaba's Chief Economist Dr. Gertrud Traud also called on others to "dare to do more Offenbach".
With these positive developments for the city in his luggage, Lord Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke once again travelled to the leading international real estate trade fair MIPIM in Cannes, France, last week together with the Head of Economic Development, Bozica Niermann: "The exchange at this trade fair with important decision-makers from project development, company boards and architecture is an important component of our economic strategy," emphasizes Lord Mayor Schwenke. His central goal is to sustainably strengthen Offenbach as a business location and thus also the financial performance of the city for its citizens. After all, the challenges remain enormous, as the situation at manroland in particular makes clear.
"Offenbach is once again being perceived as a service-oriented business location that focuses on fast approvals, attracts company headquarters and offers space for companies to grow. This development and the successes to date in attracting new companies are important steps forward - but we must continue to work tirelessly. It takes perseverance and persistence to actually attract decision-makers to our city in the end. Especially in the current economic situation worldwide and in Germany, board members are thinking very carefully about where and whether to invest at all. And the local challenges remain enormous, as the situation at manroland in particular makes clear," says Schwenke.
At the same time, Offenbach remains heavily dependent on macroeconomic developments due to the recession in Germany, new trade conflicts and global political uncertainties, explains Schwenke, highlighting the current challenges. It also became clear at MIPIM that the real estate industry is still in a difficult phase: "The mood is mixed, with great uncertainty prevailing in many places - exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and unpredictable customs decisions."
"However, we used the trade fair in Cannes to maintain important contacts, stay in touch, advance planned projects in Offenbach and initiate new projects," summarizes Bozica Niermann. While new projects traditionally remain confidential, discussions were also held on the further progress of the IPK project, which is planning a new urban quarter for offices and service providers on the Nordring in the Kaiserlei district with the "Mainsquare" project. For its part, the city will build a public park there. There was also an exchange with the project developer Panattoni about the current planning status and marketing strategies. The company is planning a modern industrial park with two buildings on the former production site of the Alfred Clouth paint factory in the Bieber-Waldhof commercial and industrial area. From the tip of the island to possible projects in Kaiserlei and Waldhof, the talks were closely timed. As a rule, the talks on site are used to reach agreements on how to proceed and not for immediate conclusions.
