The state can and should merely create the requisite market conditions and provide support only where this is necessary in the interest of the economy as a whole. Thus the Federal Government is primarily concerned with ensuring that world commodity markets function properly because of their vital importance to Germany’s industries.

It achieves this objective mainly by
underwriting investment in developing countries against political risks;

providing guarantees for untied loans; and

supporting the work of the Federal Institute for Geo-sciences and Natural Resources in advance of commercial exploration.