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Germany's major metropolis Frankfurt has officially extended invitation to TikTok to set up the popular video platform's new European headquarters in the city. Mayor Peter Feldmann has extended an invitation for talks to TikTok's board of directors.
German media outlets Journal Frankfurt and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported that Feldmann sent a letter to TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance on Wednesday.
Frankfurt boasts large computing capacities, the world's largest internet exchange DE-CIX, a vast pool of trained professionals, the letter said, adding "All of the above makes the city an ideal location for IT companies, especially for TikTok's international headquarters."
The Mayor noted that the city shares a good relationship with China through it's partner city in southern China, Guangzhou. Guangzhou and Frankfurt became partner cities 32 years ago; during the coronavirus pandemic, the two cities supported each other by donating PPEs and issuing warm letters during different stages of the outbreak.
Regarding the invitation, TikTok told Journal Frankfurt that the company is very glad about Frankfurt's interest, but the final location for new headquarters is not settled yet.
"TikTok has always been striving to become a global company. Considering the current situation, TikTok is considering to set up a new global headquarter in other major global markets besides the U.S., to better serve customers worldwide," a spokesperson for ByteDance told CGTN.
After U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order demanding TikTok to either sell the U.S. business to a "very American" company or shut down its U.S. operation in 45 days, TikTok has been searching to relocate its global headquarters, for now London and Dublin are frontrunners in the race.
In Germany, ByteDance already has a branch in Berlin headed by Tobia Henning, a lawyer with background in paid content business and has previously worked for the Axel Springer media company.
