German direct investment in the foreign electrical industry climbed by six percent to 56.3 billion euros in 2011 compared to the previous year. The ZVEI attributes the difference in amount compared to the 57.2 billion euros in direct investments by the German electrical industry in foreign companies to the fact that both the German electrical industry and other German industrial sectors invest in their own and other sectors when investing abroad.

A total of 665,000 people were employed in the 1,392 electrical companies in which investments were made across German borders. Compared to 2010, the number of companies in which investments were made fell by four percent. By contrast, employment and revenue increased by two and six percent respectively.