Denmark is one of the best places in the world to do business. It is through business and trade that Denmark has become one of the most prosperous societies in the world. I invite you to take part in our economic success story by presenting to you the directory of Danish Exporters 2009 – the only comprehensive guide to Danish manufacturers and service providers in the export sector.

Denmark has in previous years consistently been rated as one of the best places in the world to do business. International organisations and professional and academic institutions alike recognise the competitiveness and success of the Danish economy. The Economist Intelligence Unit has, for several years, seen Denmark dominating its comprehensive ranking of the most competitive places for doing business and the World Economic Forum ranks Denmark number one in the world in terms of information technology.

Denmark is among the countries where wealth is most evenly distributed. Employees work closely with management in order to find the best possible balance between working life and private life. Similarly we, in the government, work closely with industry and unions to formulate balanced policies that allow both enterprises and individuals to prosper. In other words, we excel together.

Our strengths include a highly educated, innovative and flexible workforce; competitive capital and commodity markets; and a very flexible labour market which is supported by a comprehensive social security system. This ensures a positive attitude towards change, business innovation and globalisation. No small feat in a world where jobs are being outsourced and traditional work patterns are being challenged. Denmark remains committed to perpetuating our position as one of the most competitive markets in the world. We do this by reforming and restructuring our public sector to maintain its high degree of efficiency, and by maintaining the tax-freeze that has been in force since 2001.

These are but some of the reasons why Denmark is one of the world’s most adaptable and most competitive countries. With a global economic crisis, and global warming on the agenda, the challenges ahead are daunting. That is why we have put a special emphasis on Danish strongholds, such as innovation, creative enterprise and environmentally friendly solutions. Denmark is already a world leader in the production and usage of renewable energies such as wind, and the promotion of energy efficient solutions for industry, buildings, and the transport sector is also a priority. We seek to sustain our leading position in this area by supporting and further promoting our cutting edge research activities in future technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells and bio fuels. I look particularly forward to promoting a more environmentally friendly energy industry for all countries at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

With this in mind, I sincerely hope that Danish Exporters 2009 will prove a useful tool for you when considering expanding your business relations in Denmark. The directory is also available on the Internet at www.danishexporters.dk and on CD-ROM. We look forward to meeting you.

Lars Løkke Rasmussen
Prime Minister of Denmark