The Representative of German Industry and Trade (RGIT) is the Washington, DC liaison office of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK). President is Dr. Thomas Zielke. RGIT’s mission is to foster free trade and a welcoming business environment on both sides of the Atlantic to achieve sustainable growth, jobs and innovation for companies involved in German-American economic relations.

Founded in 1988, RGIT is supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and serves as the voice of German Industry and Trade on behalf of RGIT’s principals BDI and DIHK. The BDI – Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie – speaks for 37 sector associations, 15 regional offices, and approx. 100.000 companies with a total workforce of about eight million people. The DIHK – Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag – represents the interests of the 80 German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCIs) and their 3.6 million member companies from the industry, trade and service sectors.

RGIT maintains registrations under both the Foreign Agents Registration Act and the Lobby Disclosure Act.