With a trade volume of over 144 billions euro Bavaria plays a key role in world economy. Exports totalled almost 79 billions euro in 1999, 53 percent of which to countries within the EU and the remainder to other countries worldwide. Such figures are in evidence that Bavarian economy is successfully competitive with the best in the world. Imports amounted to 66 billions euro, thus certifying that Bavaria is a well-sought market as well.
      The major export destinations for Bavarian products are the markets in the USA, Italy and France. Exports comprise mostly vehicles, machinery, electrical goods, i.e. high-tech and capital goods. With regard to imports, Italy maintains the lead, followed by the USA and Austria. As compared to the other federal provinces, Bavaria occupies a prominent position in the field of direct investment, too. In 1998 Bavarian companies invested about 6.4 billions euro abroad. At the same time, most foreign capital in 1998, over 5 billions euro, was attracted to Bavaria.
      In its foreign trade policy Bavaria sets much store, on the one hand, by maintaining and widening its well-established ties with traditional trade partners in Western Europe and North America. On the other hand, the Bavaria´s foreign economic policy pursues to intensify trade with the regions of dynamic growth in the Asia-related basin of the Pacific Ocean and Latin America. Following the collapse of the "Iron Curtain", Bavaria has found considerable opportunities to enlarge its cooperation with the Central and East European nations in transition.