Farewell, Frankfurt

We spent our last day in Frankfurt meeting with Frankfurt Main Finance and the Finance Agency of the Federal Government of Germany. Both organizations play significant but different roles in Germany’s financial landscape. Frankfurt Main Finance is a public-private partnership that promotes Frankfurt as a leading international financial center. The Finance Agency of the Federal Government of Germany is a government institution that manages the borrowing and debt management of the German federal government. The difference between these two agencies is that Frankfurt Main Finance’s activities are associated with promotion, networking, and advocacy, while the Finance Agency’s activities revolve around issuing debt and managing the government’s debt portfolio.

As we board the train to Brussels and I reflect on my time in Frankfurt, I have gained an understanding of just how significant Frankfurt is as a major financial hub. Being home to the European Central Bank, Deutsche Bundesbank, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange enhances Frankfurt’s status as a financial center. In addition, as we learned at Frankfurt Main Finance, Frankfurt’s strategic location in the heart of Europe, the city’s infrastructure, and the city’s highly skilled workforce all contribute to Frankfurt’s status as a leading financial center in Europe. From what I have learned about Frankfurt over the last four days, I believe Frankfurt will continue to grow in significance as a major financial hub in Europe and around the world.

View of Frankfurt from the train leaving for Brussels.