We promote commerce and industry

The association’s goal is to improve the spatial, social, and economic structure of the city of by developing industry, commerce, trade, industrial arts and the service sector in all areas as well as broadening the labour market. These responsibilities dictate our day-to-day activities. ENO sees itself as a partner of business owners – not only the local ones but also those who are interested in becoming active in Oberhausen. As part of close communications with existing enterprises, our goal is to assist Oberhausen company owners in networking with each other and to identify solutions for individual issues. We are not only familiar with the Oberhausen real-estate market and economy but also know what is possible and how. 

ENO und WFO – a strong team

In early 2007, the Wirtschaftsförderung Oberhausen regrouped with a new structure.

WFO – Wirtschaftsförderung Oberhausen was established from the now defunct GEG (Grundstücksentwicklungsgesellschaft Oberhausen mbH) and expanded the original spectrum of services offered.

The original public-private partnership model, i.e., the close co-operation between the economic sector and the City of Oberhausen, has been preserved since it has proven to be successful over the years and is now well established. Economic promotion in Oberhausen will stand on two operative legs from now on:

• WFO, a wholly owned company of the city, and
• ENO (Entwicklungsgesellschaft Neu-Oberhausen mbH) wirh its shareholders.

What makes this new structure special? A target agreement and contracts allow the shareholders of ENO to have direct influence on WFO. The private partners, i.e. the businesses, can positively influence the WFO’s work and profit from it at the same time. The two-leg model’s charm lies in the fact that ENO drafts and finances tasks, or rather projects, in the field of economic promotion which WFO in turn implements operationally.



As a service provider with close contact to companies, the city-owned WFO can profit from the private partners’ know-how, while supporting the network within the circle of ENO shareholders. In the interest of transparency, the – generally municipal – land parcel transactions and WFO real estate projects are strictly separated. WFO and ENO are under the common management of Frank Lichtenheld.

Web Site: www.wfo-gmbh.de