With a population of around 51,000, Emden is not only the largest city in East Frisia but is also considered a job engine in the region. In Emden there are about 34,000 jobs subject to social insurance. In addition, the city is the seat of the University of Applied Sciences Emden / Leer with about 4,700 registered students.

Emden is the westernmost German port city on the North Sea coast. The city holds a key position within Northern Europe as a logistics hub for goods of all kinds with sea connections to the export and import markets overseas. Together with the Volkswagen plant in Emden (around 9,500 employees), the port of Emden, with around 9,000 directly port-related employees, is a key economic factor and employer for the city and the region. The suppliers based in the industrial and commercial campus Frisia especially contribute to this.

In the port of Emden various goods are handled, especially vehicles and RO / RO, but also forest products, minerals and much more. Emden plays an important role in the wind energy industry for manufacturing, storing and shipping of wind turbines. The port continues to serve as the base port for many companies and service providers to build and maintain offshore wind farms in the North Sea. The sectors ship repair and ship segment construction are also represented in the port

For future port developments and locations for businesses, Emden has a potential of around 1,000 hectares of development space. The continental markets are easily accessible from Emden via roads, railways and inland waterways. Towards the south, the Dortmund-Ems Canal connects the harbour via Münster with the Ruhr area and the Rhine, and via the Mittelland Canal and Magdeburg with Berlin, Dresden and Prague. There are also inland waterway connections to the Jade and the Lower Weser, towards Delfzijl and the Emskanal in the Netherlands and the Lower Rhine via the Ems-Jade Canal and the Coastal Canal.

The geographical location in the quadrangle Germany-Denmark-Netherlands-Belgium, the excellent supra-regional transport links, the proximity to many economic centres as well as the maximum promotion of investments are just some of the factors that make Emden an efficient business location. The district-free city is characterised by medium-sized companies of various industries.

Emden is directly connected to the German (A 31 / A 28) and international (A7 NL) motorway network. The city is also connected via the federal road 210 and by train to the local public transport network. Semicircular around Emden runs the federal motorway A 31 with five connection points at various points of the city. The motorway connects Emden and Ostfriesland with the Ruhr area. Oldenburg can be reached via the A 31 and A 28 in 45 minutes. Furthermore, the B 210 begins in Emden and leads in a west-east direction across East Frisia to Wilhelmshaven. From west to east, the federal road 2 leads through Emden.

The railway line Emden-Münster-Ruhr area is double-tracked, designed for heavy loads and fully electrified. Emden has several stations for passenger and freight traffic. The public transport is ensured by bus service. The central bus and train station is located directly in the city centre.

Another hub at the Dollart is Emden airport. The site is used for private and commercial air transport of passengers, cargo aircraft and helicopters. Furthermore, the airport is specially designed for ambulance and rescue flights. The airport is being used by companies that supply the offshore wind farms in the North Sea. In addition, the airfield has a training tower for offshore helicopters. Further expansion measures are planned.