The Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag, DIHK, formerly: Deutscher Industrie- und Handelstag, DIHT) is the apex organisation of 80 regional chambers of commerce and industry (IHK) in Germany. All enterprises and individual businesses registered in Germany are required by law to join a chamber, with the exception of skilled craftsmen, freelancers and agricultural businesses.[1]
The regional chambers represent more than three million enterprises, including multi-national companies but also small retailers and innkeepers. This gives the association considerable political influence. It does not represent any specific corporate group but all commercial enterprises in Germany.[1]
The largest regional chamber of commerce is the Munich and Upper Bavaria Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK München und Oberbayern) with about 350,000 members.[2]
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