(Yicai Global) May 21 -- Chinese companies hired massively more in Germany last year than a year earlier despite the declining number of new projects, according to a Berlin-based economic development agency.

Chinese firms' investment projects created at least 4,400 new jobs in the European country last year, an increase of 3,000 from 2018, according to data released by Germany Trade & Invest yesterday.

More than 1,850 foreign companies set up new projects in the European economic powerhouse last year, falling about 10 percent from 2018, a record year, but the number of new jobs rose to 42,000 from 24,000, the report added.

China fell out of the top three countries that are home to firms which kicked off the biggest number of projects, as the US was No. 1 with its over 300 undertakings, followed by the UK, and Switzerland. China's tally was 154.

In 2016, China's investment projects amounted to 281 so last year's number is nearly half of that, GTI's General Manager Robert Hermann wrote in the report.

Chinese enterprises were mostly looking at Germany for its prowess in the fields of equipment and machinery manufacturing, consumer goods and food, as well as automobiles.

Editor: Emmi Laine