Southern Upper Rhine IHK elects new assembly with record female representation

A digital-first election reshapes regional business leadership. With more women than ever, the new IHK assembly prepares to set economic priorities for the Upper Rhine.

, and Administrator

2026 April 8 . 10:14 AM

1 min read

The image shows a cartoon of three women standing and holding a paper with the words "Votes for... — The image shows a cartoon of three women standing and holding a paper with the words "Votes for Women: The Women's Social & Political Union" written on it. The women are wearing traditional clothing and have determined expressions on their faces, suggesting that they are ready to take on the challenge of voting for women. The paper they are holding is white with black text, and the background is a light blue sky with white clouds.

Southern Upper Rhine IHK elects new assembly with record female representation

The Southern Upper Rhine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) has elected a new full assembly. This group serves as the organisation's top decision-making body, guiding key economic policies for the region. The election, held entirely online for the first time, saw 80 entrepreneurs compete for 50 seats. The vote took place from March 4 to 24, 2026, with around 75,000 eligible participants. Out of the 50 elected members, 18 are women—an increase from 13 in the previous assembly. Female representation now stands at 36 percent.

All assembly members serve as volunteers, representing businesses from different industries. The first session of the newly elected body is set for Wednesday, July 30, 2026. During this meeting, the presidency and various committees will be appointed for the coming term.

The new assembly will now take on its role in shaping the region's economic direction. With a higher number of women and a fully digital election process, the group reflects recent changes in participation. Their first official session in late July will mark the start of their term.