16th International Day - Germany
Wednesday, September 24, 2025, 11:00 – 22:00
Sparkassenakademie Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart
Please note: Participation is free of charge, but spaces are limited. We will contact you in advance to schedule your one-on-one meetings.
Limited Spots: Register Now!
To help us coordinate personalized consultations with country experts on the day of the event, please register no later than September 17, 2025 using the form below.
/ Expand Smarter, Scale Faster, Lead Stronger
Join ALTIOS, Helaba, and S-International Südwest for an exclusive executive summit designed for CEOs, C-suite leaders, and Directors of International Expansion.
Gain strategic insights from global expansion specialists, engage in high-level discussions, and connect with influential decision-makers shaping the future of international business.
This high-impact, full-day event features expert panels, masterclasses, and one-on-one consultations—offering you practical guidance and powerful networking opportunities.
/ Key Areas of Focus
Gain the strategic advantage needed to expand globally. These core areas will equip you with the knowledge, tools, and connections to navigate international business landscapes successfully.
Discover how to evaluate and prioritize global markets based on demand, stability, competition, and fit with your product or service.
Learn how to choose between greenfield investment, partnerships, acquisitions, or export models—based on your goals and resources.
Understand the key criteria—such as cost structures, logistics, regulations, and local incentives—for selecting an efficient and scalable international production location.
Gain insights into sourcing, hiring, and retaining skilled talent abroad, including cultural integration and HR compliance.
Explore practical financing solutions tailored to global operations, including trade finance, foreign investments, and local banking structures
Learn how to protect your business from currency fluctuations, customs issues, regulatory hurdles, and supply chain disruptions.
Find out how to spot and assess acquisition opportunities that align with your strategic goals—and how to navigate cross-border M&A successfully.
11:00–17:00 | Individual Country Consultations (Duration: 30 minutes)
Take part in one-on-one, half-hour meetings with international market experts at dedicated country tables. Receive tailored advice on expansion strategies, market entry, and local business practices.
14:00 | Welcome Address
- Michael Sager, Deputy Bank Director & Head of Sparkassen/Mittelstand Bavaria/Baden-Württemberg, Helaba
- Klaus Maier, Partner, Altios Germany
- Heike Rudolph, Managing Director, S‑International Südwest
14:15 | Interview: World Tour with Kurtz Ersa – First-Hand Insights into Internationalization
Presented by Rainer Krauss (Ersa GmbH), moderated by Thomas Breitinger (Altios Germany)
15:00 | Networking Break
Make new connections in an informal setting with other executives, experts, and speakers.
15:15 | Presentation: Market Expansion in South America
Presented by Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH
15:45 | Networking Break
Make new connections in an informal setting with other executives, experts, and speakers.
16:00 | Panel Discussion: Market Expansion in the USA
Presented by Läpple AG and Hammann GmbH / Comprex Moderated by Heike Rudolph (S-International Südwest) and Thomas Breitinger (Altios Germany)
16:45 | Networking Break
Make new connections in an informal setting with other executives, experts, and speakers.
17:00 | Executive Briefings
- Economic Outlook & Capital Markets – Dr. Gertrud Rosa Traud, Chief Economist, Helaba
- Germany’s Future: Geopolitics is key – Ralf Schuster, Geopolitical Strategist, Helaba
18:00 - 22:00 | Evening Reception
End the day in a relaxed atmosphere with engaging conversations and culinary delights in the charming Lampensaal of the Academy.
/ An Agenda Built for Global Ambition
Expanding internationally requires more than ambition—it demands the right strategy, insights, and partners. This event is designed to empower you with expert knowledge, practical guidance, and meaningful connections to help you scale globally with confidence and precision.
/ Key Partners
Helaba is the Landesbank for the Sparkassen in Hesse, Thuringia, North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg and is closely integrated into the S-Finanzgruppe (SFG) in Germany. As a Landesbank, it serves Sparkassen in a wide range of business areas, particularly in international business, as well as customers in the upper SME segment and large customers. Internationally, it has branches in London, New York, Paris and Stockholm as well as representative offices in Madrid, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore.
Thanks to the expertise of its advisors, Helaba offers a wide range of banking and financial services to its own corporate customers as well as to Sparkassen and their SME customers.
S-International Südwest is the reliable partner at the side of 23 savings banks and stands for competence and effectiveness in international business. More than 140 experts ensure efficient processing and support the corporate customers of the savings banks with tailor-made solutions for opening up international markets. Customer proximity is a top priority with advisors at each of the 23 locations and the risk sharing between several savings banks makes S-International a professional partner for sophisticated financing, even for large medium-sized companies. S-International is represented across all continents by the S-CountryDesk, the international network of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe. The network includes its own global relationships with correspondent and partner banks, Deutsche Leasing with offices in more than 20 countries and the Landesbanken. The wide range of services offered by S-International extends from A for foreign trade financing to Z for interest rate management, to name just two areas.
/ Media Partners & Sponsors
S-CountryDesk is the international network of the Sparkassen Financial Group. Here, specialist knowledge from many partners at home and abroad comes together and is bundled into a complete service package. Easy to use via the free app S-weltweit: www.s-weltweit.de
Coface is one of the world’s leading companies in trade credit insurance, business information and debt collection. With more than 100 years of experience in credit and risk management, Coface supports 100,000 companies in around 200 markets.
Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) is the foreign trade agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. With over 50 locations worldwide and its partner network, GTAI supports German companies on their path abroad, promotes Germany as a business location and accompanies foreign companies in settling in Germany.
German Centres – The perfect match from the start – German Centres accompany companies in growing internationally. In a building with diverse infrastructure, flexible coworking and office environments, we create the framework in which companies can exchange ideas, collaborate and develop. Our locations are where companies find exciting target markets and ideally have a partner who supports them in all phases of internationalization. This is where we come in: On-site abroad, we accompany with everything companies need to start and grow successfully. The locations of our German Centres are in Singapore, Mexico, Beijing, Shanghai and Taicang. More than 3,500 companies have already used this opportunity since 1995. We match. You grow.
East Asia Association (OAV) – Since its founding in 1900, the East Asia Association has been active as a business association with much experience, commitment and excellent contacts for its members. As the largest of the country associations, more than 800 members are organized in the OAV. This includes around 500 corporate members from all sectors across Germany, such as representatives of large industrial corporations, medium-sized manufacturing companies, trading companies, banks, insurance companies as well as numerous service companies. The common interest is the Asian-Pacific region: The OAV offers both Asia-experienced companies and newcomers the ideal platform for cross-industry exchange of experience and a comprehensive practical service offering.
/ Location
- By foot: ~5 min walk from Stuttgart Central Station via Hauptbahnhof Nord exit.
- By U-Bahn: Stop at “Stadtbibliothek” (Mailänder Platz / Europaviertel).
- By car: Take A8 (Karlsruhe/Munich) or A81 (Heilbronn/Singen) to B14/B10/B27 toward Hauptbahnhof. Parking available in the underground garage (no reservation). Park & Ride options via VVS.
- By plane: Fly into Stuttgart Airport, then take S2 or S3 train to Hauptbahnhof.