Money from the Gulf
:
How Qatar is expanding its influence in Germany
Reading time: 7 mins
Open detailed view
A Volkswagen in front of the Doha skyline in Qatar. Even in difficult times, the small country sticks by the car manufacturer.
(Photo: Friso Gentsch / picture alliance / dpa)
Qatar has invested 25 billion euros in large German companies. The money – and the gas – are popular with local managers. But can business continue after the negative headlines?
Of
Thomas Fromm, Max Hägler and Meike Schreiber, Munich, Frankfurt
When the al-Thani ruling family officially invited to the soccer World Cup in Qatar in the spring, it quickly became clear at Volkswagen that a larger delegation was needed here. And so CEO Oliver Blume was not the only one who boarded the plane on November 24th. He was accompanied by the two most powerful men in the Wolfsburg auto empire: Hans Dieter Pötsch, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at VW. And Wolfgang Porsche, guardian of the family heritage of the two VW families, the Porsches and the Piechs. If the emirate invites everyone, not just the employed managers, but everyone has to do it. Discussions between investors and car manufacturers are also discussions at eye level – from clan to clan.
SZ Plus subscribers also read:
war against Ukraine
The special expertise of the BND
death and grief
How best to help grieving people
Health
“The key to mobility is the hamstrings”
psychology
How much do our siblings shape us?
Obituary for Dietrich Mateschitz
Full of energy