Mittelstandsrat (SME Advisory Council) at KfW

The Mittelstandsrat (SME Advisory Council) specifies the state mandate of Mittelstandsbank (SME Bank). It deliberates and takes decisions on proposals for the promotion of small- and medium-sized enterprises, taking into consideration the overall business planning of the institution.

Chair of the SME Advisory Council:

Katherina Reiche
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy

Deputy Chair:

Lars Klingbeil
Federal Minister of Finance

Further members are:

Elisabeth Kaiser
Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany
Minister of State
Federal Ministry of Finance

Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter
Parliamentary State Secretary
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety

Dr Holger Fabig
Director General
Federal Ministry of Finance

Daniela Schmitt
Minister of State
Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate

• Alternate Members:
  Mona Neubaur
  Minister
  Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
  
  Grant Hendrik Tonne
  Minister
  Lower Saxony Ministry for Economic Affairs, Transport and Construction

Jürgen Barke
Minister
Saarland Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digital Affairs and Energy

• Alternate Members:
  Mona Neubaur
  Minister
  Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
  
  Grant Hendrik Tonne
  Minister
  Lower Saxony Ministry for Economic Affairs, Transport and Construction

Dr Janina Jänsch
Head of the Directorate
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Dr Armgard Wippler
Director General
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Kathrin Wünnemann
Head of Division
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Dr Julia König
Government Director
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

As of February 2026