![Responsibility in foreign trade promotion | Federal export credit guarantees A worker installs a solar panel on a roof](https://www.exportkreditgarantien.de/_Resources/Persistent/a/7/c/d/a7cdbb9f72de1238c36aa83eeaedcd14910635d7/exportkreditgarantien-nachhaltigkeit-verantwortung.jpg)
Responsibility
Sustainability, trust and transformation
The action of the Federal Government have to be transparent and comprehensible in particular as regards the instruments of the export credit guarantees; thus, a relationship between the state and the citizenson trust can evolve. Besides, the Federal Government will gain important insights for its decisions from the contributions of all social interest groups.
Cover for transactions with export credit guarantees is linked to certain framework conditions. In addition to eligibility for cover, the Federal Government is also bound by international guiding principles when providing cover for exports. In this way, exporters and export-financing banks are given a reliable framework within which they can obtain state cover for export transactions and which even makes transactions possible in many cases.
Sustainability
![Climate strategy of the export credit guarantees of the federal government Man installs solar panels on a roof](https://www.exportkreditgarantien.de/_Resources/Persistent/a/7/c/d/a7cdbb9f72de1238c36aa83eeaedcd14910635d7/exportkreditgarantien-nachhaltigkeit-verantwortung.jpg)
Climate strategy
In view of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, a comprehensive transformation of the economy is imperative to reduce global warming to well below two degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial era. By developing a climate strategy for export credit guarantees, the Federal Government will continue to support the German economy with cover tailored to its needs.
![Environmental, Social and Human Rights (USM) Auditing | Federal export credit guarantees Worker stands in front of a windmill with a checklist](https://www.exportkreditgarantien.de/_Resources/Persistent/0/2/5/8/0258e14578e5565d010a1c467ae3c888fc037844/exportkreditgarantien-klimastrategie.jpg)
Assessment of environmental, social and human rights issues (ESHR)
Environmental, social and human rights issues (ESHR) play an important role in the promotion of foreign trade. When an application is made, due diligence is carried out to make sure that national and international standards will be met. With the following links you can access information on the requirements and procedure of the environmental, social and human rights assessment (ESHR assessment) and EHSR Background information as well.
![Promotion of climate-friendly exports | Federal export credit guarantees Employee explains a wind turbine using a model in a meeting](https://www.exportkreditgarantien.de/_Resources/Persistent/a/d/c/6/adc67b256825726fe34232333fb739c615f18ffd/exportkreditgarantien-begleitung-der-wirtschaft.jpg)
Promotion of climate-friendly exports
Global climate change is one of the biggest challenges that lie ahead in the coming years. The Federal Government supports the further development and transfer of climate-friendly, efficient high-tech products also by means of initiatives in the field of export promotion.
Promotion of climate-friendly exports
Renewable energy, climate protection and climate change adaptation, and water projects
Renewable energy technologies made in Germany rank among the best in the world. The promotion of exports of such technologies, which are mainly produced by small and medium-sized companies, is of special importance to the Federal Government. In this context maintaining the innovation dynamic for German cutting-edge technology in the field of the utilization of renewables through presence also on foreign markets plays an important role.
With the adoption of the CCSU (Climate Change Sector Understanding) of the OECD Consensus in 2012, exports of climate-friendly technologies were recognised as particularly deserving of promotion. Since the fundamental revision in the course of the consensus modernisation in 2023, in addition to renewable energies, water projects and climate change adaptation projects, particularly climate-friendly technologies are also promoted with especially long credit periods of up to 22 years. Further details can be found on the OECD website on Export Credits and in the original text of the CCSU (Annex I to the OECD Consensus).
Trust
![OECD Common Approaches A man and woman look at a digital map of the world](https://www.exportkreditgarantien.de/_Resources/Persistent/9/c/e/e/9cee9462ba676be2e67e3a004e5e0e57fa656f21/exportkreditgarantien-laenderklassifizierungen.jpg)
OECD Common Approaches
Create a level playing field
The assessment of environmental, social and human rights aspects is an important element of the decision on the eligibility for cover of an export transaction.
The export credit agencies’ requirements regarding process, due diligence and transparency are defined in the “Recommendations of the Council on Common Approaches for Officially Supported Export Credits and Environmental and Social Due Diligence” (short: Common Approaches).
![More on corruption prevention | Federal export credit guarantees A man looks at content on a digital screen](https://www.exportkreditgarantien.de/_Resources/Persistent/0/0/9/0/0090c17e6c97bbe5aacd0bbff3693b1b4ab4b9bc/exportkreditgarantien-transparenz-korruptionspraevention.jpg)
Prevention of Bribery
A central aspect of sustainable action
The corruption-free transaction of export business and its financing is of great importance to the Federal Government because it considers this to be a crucial aspect of sustainability. Accordingly, the absence of corruption is also a major criterion for a transaction’s eligibility for support.
Transformation
![Strategische Auslandsprojekte Bild: Wiese mit Solarpanels, Windkrafträdern und Energiespeicher](https://www.exportkreditgarantien.de/_Resources/Persistent/3/8/e/7/38e75ee8f669c67b9a335b768f1bb14a8c26187f/strategische-projekte.jpg)
Strategic support for foreign projects
The German foreign trade promotion instruments have proven their worth. However, competitors from third countries are increasingly competing with political support and comprehensive financing offers, particularly in tenders for large-volume foreign projects. This creates competitive disadvantages for German providers.
The key points of the Federal Government's strategy paper provide new impetus for international competition for major strategic projects in order to improve opportunities for Germany.
![Accompanying the economy in the transformation | Federal export credit guarantees Employees discuss a machine part](https://www.exportkreditgarantien.de/_Resources/Persistent/c/9/8/7/c987d33ed87fdd268cea7b05aabe534b20938ce5/exportkreditgarantien-internationale-kooperationen.jpg)
Accompanying the German export industry in the transformation process
An increasingly challenging environment awaits many companies. The Federal Government provides support, among other things, through initiatives in the area of export promotion.
We are partners to the business community in this transformation.