The Ecnomic Base : Germany

Six years after the transition from a state-controlled economy to a market economy, the tructuring of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s economy is well under way. The most important ches are the shipbuilding industry, the food, ancj beverage industry, the construction mechanical engineering, the building materials industry and the wood industry. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s seaports continue to figure prominently in the state’s economy. The largest is Rostock; the port of Mukran on the island of Rijgen, which affords swift connections to the countries adjoining the Baltic, is taking on increasing importance as well. A well-developed network of roads and rail lines links the state with its neighbors. An autobahn along the coast is currently being improved and extended.

Agriculture plays a more significant role in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania than in other federal states. Principal crops are grain, oilseed (rape) and potatoes. 80 percent of the 1.3 million hectares given over to agriculture are farmed by operations with more than 500 hectares.

Tourism is an important economic factor for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In 1994, 2.4 million people visited the state, which offers nearly 1,600 accommodations with more than 88,000 beds. The most famous tourist magnet is Riigen, Germany’s largest island (930 square kilometers). Its white chalk cliffs never fail to captivate the beholder. Many visitors are also drawn to the Granitz Hunting Lodge or the Stortebeker Festival. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania takes particular care to ensure that the steadily growing tourism industry does not become a burden on the environment. 270 nature reserves, 106 landscape reserves, three national parks and a biosphere reserve attest to the importance which the state attaches to nature conservation and environmental protection.