German Industry Leader Warns of Mass Exodus of Entrepreneurs if New Government Fails to Act
The president of the German Industry and Commerce Association (DIHK), Peter Adrian, has sounded the alarm over the potential loss of hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs if the new federal government fails to take swift action. According to a survey by the DIHK, more than a quarter of a million businesses face the risk of collapse if suitable successors are not found by the end of the decade.
Adrian, in an interview with the Rheinische Post, also noted that interest in starting a business is at a historically low level. He emphasized that the government must make the path to self-employment more attractive, whether through succession planning or entrepreneurship. “We need rapid and tangible bureaucratic streamlining and broad relief measures” Adrian stressed, citing reductions in energy, labor and tax costs.
The conference of state economic ministers, scheduled to begin in Stuttgart this week, has the theme of strengthening entrepreneurship on its agenda. Adrian has called for a clear course with economic reliability from the conference, so that the middle class, start-ups, founders and successors can regain trust in the country’s business environment.