Germany’s Industry and Trade Association Welcomes Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality Fund Bill
Germany’s Industry and Trade Association (DIHK) has expressed its approval for the draft bill on a special fund for infrastructure and climate neutrality. The association’s president, Peter Adrian, stated in an interview with the Funke-Mediengruppe that the bill is a crucial and long-overdue step in strengthening the country’s economic position. Germany has been lagging behind in public investments in international comparison for years and it is imperative that something is done, Adrian emphasized.
The bill, according to Adrian, takes steps in the right direction towards a reliable economic policy. However, he also warned that the investments must be effective, as the world economy is not waiting for Germany. The association’s president highlighted the deteriorating framework conditions on a local level, which are already threatening the competitiveness of companies.
Germany, Adrian stressed, needs a high-performance infrastructure, covering everything from transportation networks to digital networks and educational institutions. The association’s president called for more than just financial means, citing high energy and personnel costs, excessive bureaucracy and lengthy planning and approval processes as obstacles to investments. He also mentioned complicated tender procedures as an additional challenge.
To address these issues, Adrian advocated for structural reforms, including the digitalization of the administration, increased trust in entrepreneurial action and a mental shift towards a faster and less regulated approach.