Economic summit in Grafenau: Aiwanger warns of loss of competitiveness!

Economic summit in Grafenau: Aiwanger warns of loss of competitiveness!

The traditionally established Grafenau Economic Summit, which took place for the 28th time this year, once again brought top-class representatives from politics, science and business to the region. Among the guests were District President Rainer Haselbeck, member of the state parliament Dr. Stefan Ebner and IHK general manager Alexander Schreiner. Particularly prominent was Deputy Prime Minister and Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger, who appeared as the keynote speaker and looked at the economic policy situation in the country. How muw news reports, Aiwanger discussed the challenges that are currently weighing on German companies.

Aiwanger painted a picture of the tense economic situation in the country, especially in the context of rising wage costs and the relocation of production facilities abroad. He called for a drastic reduction in taxes and duties in order to strengthen Germany's competitiveness. There were also other demands, such as saving on electricity taxes and simplifying bureaucratic approval procedures - problems that many entrepreneurs in the Bavarian Forest know well. This criticism of bureaucracy was also described by Aiwanger as one of the biggest obstacles for companies. Characterized by high energy costs and the burden of bureaucratic hurdles, many companies feel restricted in their ability to act bayern.de explained.

Important topics on the table

During the course of the event, numerous topics were discussed, the relevance of which is felt not only regionally but nationally. The focus was, among other things, on pension and social policy issues, the increasingly pressing bureaucracy, planned infrastructure projects and challenging aspects of energy policy. Moderated by Jürgen Greipl, who also pointed out the short working hours in Germany compared to other OECD countries, the question arose as to what necessary reforms could look like. Greipl once again called for the tax burden to be reduced and unnecessary documentation requirements to be eliminated.

If you look at the overall economic situation, it is clear that Germany's economy shrank by 0.3 percent last year. A report by the Federal Ministry of Finance attributed the causes to the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, rising interest rates and weak global economic development. The structural challenges are serious: geopolitical changes, demographic change, high levels of bureaucracy and the need for decarbonization present those responsible with major tasks. Forecasts predict a slight increase in GDP of 0.2 percent in 2024, but this cannot hide the existing problems, as in bundesfinanzministerium.de described.

The regional perspective

In the Freyung-Grafenau district, particular emphasis is placed on recruiting skilled workers. Another focus of the event was the “Excellent Block Internship”, which is intended to promote medical care in rural areas. The “MADE in FRG” image campaign is also in the starting blocks and is intended to strengthen regional identity.

The Grafenau Economic Summit has established itself over the years as a platform to promote fruitful exchange between business and politics and to develop solutions for pressing challenges. This year, the Grafenau City Bear was presented to Minister Aiwanger, a symbol of the close ties between politics, business and the population in the region. A good sign that dialogue and collaboration are very important even in difficult times.