Less inflation, possibly falling interest rates soon, more purchasing power: The Chancellor wants to spread optimism among entrepreneurs at an association anniversary. Criticism comes from them – including a minister.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) encouraged family businesses to have “confidence moving forward” despite some challenges. called. Inflation is at its lowest level in three years and analysts believe that falling interest rates are within reach, he said on Thursday in Wiesbaden at the family business days of the association of the same name. This celebrated its 75th anniversary. “Business expectations among medium-sized businesses and exporters are increasing,” added Scholz. “Purchasing power is finally rising again.” The real gross value added in industry remained stable despite inflation and a temporary decline in production in energy-intensive sectors.
For him, the focus is on a “supply policy” with four elements: affordable, secure and sustainable energy, investments in infrastructure and new technologies, less bureaucracy and well-trained specialists. According to the Chancellor, energy prices have stabilized despite the war in Ukraine thanks to a new import infrastructure: “In the current year, import capacities for liquid gas on German coasts are expected to at least double again compared to 2023.” The electricity tax has been “radically reduced”. The federal government is discussing a possible continuation of the relief for companies.
According to Scholz, too much has been left behind in the development of infrastructure in recent years: “We’re changing that now. We’re promoting, we’re investing and we’re picking up the pace. With wind turbines and solar parks, with bridges and roads and with clean power plants.” In addition to depreciation conditions, loss offsetting and housing construction subsidies, the Growth Opportunities Act made possible more tax support for research. “I could imagine even more powerful impulses,” warned Scholz. A few federal states still need to be convinced of this.
Ostermann: Our economy is in decline
He called the bureaucracy for companies a “thicket of rules” that could hardly be “administered.” Therefore, work is being done on “simpler construction and planning law and relief in public procurement law”. This should lower the hurdles, especially for smaller companies interested in public contracts.
In view of the shortage of skilled workers, the Chancellor referred to the Skilled Immigration Act and more full-day care for children. He also announced that it should be made even more attractive for older people to “continue working voluntarily beyond retirement.”
The president of the Association of Family Businesses, Marie-Christine Ostermann, called on Scholz to make economic policy a top priority and to ensure that it is worthwhile to invest in Germany again: “Our economy is on the decline and is slipping further and further .” Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) “unfortunately tends to score his own goals.” In business circles he is considered to be overwhelmed. Scholz said, without mentioning Habeck’s name, that in energy policy, after the Russian gas was stopped in the wake of the war in Ukraine, there was a rapid construction of liquefied natural gas terminals in Germany that received worldwide attention: “That is a merit.”
Source: Stern
