German minister strengthens Brazil – Germany partnership during visit to Schmersal in Boituva

Wuppertal / Boituva, São Paulo, November 12, 2025 – Ahead of the COP30 World Climate Conference in Belém, the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Reem Alabali-Radovan, visited the company ACE Schmersal in Boituva (São Paulo) and signed a financing agreement worth 18 million Brazilian Reais (BRL), approx. 2.75 million euros. ACE Schmersal is part of the internationally active Schmersal Group – a family-owned company headquartered in Wuppertal, which employs around 2,000 people worldwide and specializes in safety, control, and automation technology.

The funds come from the ImpactConnect promotional programme, implemented by Germany’s development finance institution DEG and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The investment will enable the expansion of the factory, the acquisition of new machinery, and the installation of solar panels capable of generating sufficient energy to power the company’s entire operations. The initiative will also promote innovation, sustainability, and the creation of new jobs in the region.

Minister Alabali-Radovan was accompanied by representatives of DEG, a subsidiary of KfW Group that promotes responsible and sustainable investments, as well as by Edson José Marcusso, the mayor of Boituva.

“Germany values partnerships with companies that combine technology, sustainability, and social responsibility,” said Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan. “Schmersal is a strong example of effective cooperation between Brazil and Germany, showing how responsible investments can generate tangible benefits for both communities and industry.”

According to Rogério Baldauf, Managing Director of Schmersal, the visit reinforces the company’s leadership in sustainability and innovation:

“It is an honor for Schmersal to have been the only German company visited by the minister during her stay in São Paulo. This visit reflects our strong alignment with sustainability values and highlights how the industrial sector in São Paulo’s interior is modern, innovative, and vital to Brazil’s economic development.”

"With this financing we are supporting a medium-sized German company as it combines its international growth strategy with clearly defined ESG goals," added DEG Management Board member Monika Beck. "This allows us to demonstrate how industrial development, social inclusion, and climate protection can be successfully interlinked."

Schmersal continues to stand out as a benchmark in innovation, sustainability, and international cooperation. The company adopts robust ESG practices, including energy efficiency, resource reuse, social inclusion, and diversity initiatives — reinforcing the vision of a technological and sustainable industrial future for São Paulo’s interior.

The Sorocaba region, where Boituva is located, has become one of Brazil’s key economic hubs. In 2024, the regional GDP reached BRL 172.9 billion, representing 5% of São Paulo State’s GDP, while exports rose 6.6%, totaling USD 2.27 billion — a result of industrial modernization and continued growth.