Despite the German economic downturn, Economics Minister Robert Habeck remains confident. “Currently, about two dozen companies are planning major investments in Germany with a total investment volume of around 80 billion euros,” said the Green politician to the newspapers of the Funke media group. “They want to invest here and will create added value and jobs.” The projects are taking shape step by step.
According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the total includes some planned investments that are not yet publicly known. According to the definition of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, large investments include those with a volume of more than 100 million euros – such as the planned plant of the chip manufacturer Infineon in Dresden or the production of semiconductors made of silicon carbide, which the US company Wolfspeed is planning in Saarland.
“We should also trust something”
The economic situation is challenging, said Habeck. He cited the shortage of skilled workers and the ongoing consequences of the energy crisis as justification. The Federal Republic must work on competitiveness and its economic strength. “But we should also dare to do something and see where things are headed.”
Germany is a location with well-trained people, a strong middle class, innovative companies and a number of companies that have ideas and would renew themselves, said the Vice Chancellor. Whether pharmaceuticals, battery cell production or hydrogen production – they have “created a diverse biotope with a great willingness to invest, which will also bear clear fruit in the next few years and will help to renew prosperity”.
Green faction demands investment agenda
The German economy is in the doldrums. The International Monetary Fund expects Germany to be the only economy among the more than 20 countries and regions examined in which economic output will fall slightly this year.
The Greens parliamentary group in the Bundestag wants to boost the economy with a 30 billion euro package. “We need a smart investment agenda as an impetus for sustainable growth, prosperity and the competitiveness of Germany as a business location,” says a paper available to the editorial network Germany, which was written by parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge and parliamentary group deputies Andreas Audretsch and Julia Verlinden.
Among other things, it is about investments in future technologies, in public infrastructure and in buildings. Financing should be secured in particular via the Economic Stabilization Fund (WSF). The Green politicians want to help the construction industry and invest in energy-efficient buildings. They also rely on an industrial electricity price to help companies to get cheaper energy and insist on the tariff loyalty law.