2023-08-13 13:25:26
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has defended Germany as a business location once morest criticism. In an interview with the ZDF program “Berlin direkt” on Sunday, he referred to investments by foreign companies in Germany worth billions. The SPD politician once once more expressed reservations regarding the proposal by Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) for a state-subsidized, lower industrial electricity price.
In view of the economic downturn and because of the high energy prices in an international comparison, business associations are calling for broad relief. Associations also warn once morest companies moving abroad.
Scholz said large direct investments are taking place in Germany. He spoke of a massive expansion of semiconductor production. Companies settled there consciously. “You have decided in favor of Germany as a business location.”
The Taiwanese chip manufacturer TSMC had announced that it would build a semiconductor plant in Dresden by 2027. The group expects that the total investment will exceed ten billion euros. Half of it is expected to be raised by the state as a subsidy. In addition, Intel in Magdeburg is to receive almost 10 billion euros from the state for investments of 30 billion euros for a new location.
With regard to energy prices, Scholz said that the federal government is structurally ensuring that electricity generation in Germany becomes cheaper – by expanding generation capacities and the electricity grids. “We have one main task. It is to get electricity prices down, structurally. Because we won’t be able to subsidize electricity prices permanently.” If the power grid had been expanded more quickly, electricity prices would have been cheaper by now.
Scholz spoke of a “completely new pace” in the expansion of electricity generation from wind power, solar energy, biomass and hydropower. This will have an effect on the whole economy. In the spring, the chancellor said that high growth rates, like those seen during the economic miracle in the 1950s and 1960s, were due to high investments in more climate protection measures. Business associations don’t see that.
Germany is very successful as an export nation, said Scholz. If growth weakens a bit elsewhere, it will be noticeable. “But you can’t throw the baby out with the bath water now.” The federal government is working to solve problems. He referred to planned simplifications in the immigration of foreign skilled workers.
1691935496
#Scholz #defended #Germany #business #location #SN.at
