Business associations call for reliable policies for economic development in Lusatia

The business associations of Berlin-Brandenburg (UVBB) and Saxony see the current crises as a threat to long-term economic development and therefore also to the success of structural change in Lusatia. They are therefore demanding a reliable policy from the coalition in the federal government to quickly solve the acute problems. "We are missing reliable political decisions and clear concepts. The energy crisis, war, (...) excessive bureaucracy and a shortage of skilled workers form an explosive mixture," explained UVBB President Burkhardt Greiff at the Lusatia Forum in Schwarzheide (Oberspreewald-Lausitz) on Tuesday. Only if these problems were solved quickly and professionally would SMEs be able to successfully complete the structural change that had been initiated.

The associations pointed out that large new settlements would only provide the hoped-for boost for Lusatia if there was a functioning network of medium-sized producers, service providers and craft businesses. Once again, they criticized attempts by the traffic light coalition to "undermine" the coal compromise that had been reached. "We don't need to keep coming up with new ideas to bring forward deadlines, we need consistent implementation of the agreed measures," said Dietrich Enk, President of the Saxony Business Association.

The associations made it clear that the "back and forth in current economic, energy and climate policy" had to stop. Half-baked announcements and an increasing number of unresolved issues should not be allowed to torpedo structural change.

With the annual Lusatia Forums, the Brandenburg-Berlin and Saxony business associations offer a platform to accompany the structural change in Lusatia until 2038, take stock of what has been achieved and provide impetus for the future. The two business associations each have 400 companies as members.