The economic success and prosperity of the state are achieved by dedicated employees in the state’s companies. A prosperity that was omnipresent in our state until the coronavirus crisis. In modern companies, museums and cultural institutions, a functioning tourist infrastructure and thriving city centers. In good education at Pisa-successful schools, at excellent universities and in a functioning constitutional state. For a year now, parts of the economy and social life have been completely, partially or indirectly slowed down. On top of this, the social divide is deepening in the super election year of 2021. The current poll results of the democratic parties for Saxony already paint a bleak picture, which is not good for the image of Saxony as a place to live and do business.
PM_CoronaPolitik08042021
The baker does not deliver to the hotel, which is currently closed. The hotel that is closed does not place an order with the dry cleaner. The laundry therefore does not deliver starched bed linen. This in turn leads to lower transport volumes, which results in empty runs for the logistics companies.
The mechanical engineering company struggles with the lack of flight connections to enable commissioning abroad or to activate its sales department, which is responsible for filling order books. All industries miss international trade fairs with the accompanying customer impetus for future innovations and they have a significantly higher cost to maintain supply chains. When supply chains break down, entire production lines quickly come to a standstill.
Investments in training, marketing or machinery are being postponed or are not being made because all economic activity is currently subject to uncertainty. Microelectronics manufacturers are making short-term profits because the entrepreneurial organization of the home office requires hardware.
The providers of lively city centers, namely retailers, restaurants and cultural institutions, have had functioning hygiene concepts for the past year and have mastered social distancing and testing. The interim transitional rules between open and close, click & collect and click & meet are increasingly overwhelming sellers because they are not generating the necessary sales. Customers are migrating to online shopping and prospering city centers are losing their appeal as a result.
And in the demographically “oldest” federal state in Germany, the Free State of Saxony, skilled workers are migrating from particularly restricted sectors of the economy, such as the hotel and catering industry, to other, supposedly more secure sectors.
An economy with the handbrake on cannot be successful in the long term and therefore cannot finance government spending. Various industry associations assume that up to 30% of companies will suffer existential hardship or go out of business. The endless lockdown loop also casts doubt on the repayment targets for coronavirus debt.
From the very beginning of the pandemic, companies have been strategic drivers and investors for hygiene-compliant concepts and responsible business practices. Business and industry associations have shown political decision-makers options for action “Made in Germany” beyond lockdowns.
PM_CoronaPolitik08042021
One year after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, there is still no recognizable strategy for living with the virus in government action. Political responses to the challenges posed by the pandemic are stuck in lockdown. To paraphrase German Chancellor Angela Merkel: “It is important to admit mistakes; otherwise you can’t fix them.”
The crisis of confidence in political decisions can be seen in the population’s falling approval rates for the coronavirus restrictions. It goes hand in hand with declining trust in democratic structures. This is devastating in the super election year 2021 with the Bundestag elections. The potential election results in the Free State of Saxony will further tarnish the image of Saxony as a place to do business and live. A political disaster is looming on the horizon!
More and more people at home and abroad are doubting that Germany can handle a crisis well and that “Made in Germany” is a quality label. This is turning into an economic disaster!
Despite deep exhaustion, both psychologically and economically, Saxon politics can place great trust in the performance of companies and their structures. But they should be heard!
The fixation on a single disease has clearly shifted our perception. Covid is a medical problem – true. But is it appropriate to restrict basic rights across the country in the name of the virus and risk further dividing society? Now that the elderly are largely vaccinated, new threats are being created. Fear is human, but it has never been a good advisor. Decisions that only follow fears often lack feasible options and the will to shape them.
The way other countries are dealing with Covid shows that social life with the virus is possible. Various pilot projects for opening up at city and district level in Germany are a responsible way of practising political will.
Saxony’s business associations are calling for a responsible, practical policy. With a healthy degree of willingness to take risks, it is the task of those politically responsible to define the framework conditions for a timely restart beyond a further lockdown and to enable equal economic activity again. The focus should be on rational decisions that take all aspects of society into account and more room should be given to the virtue of courage. This applies to all hierarchical levels of politics: in municipalities, in districts, in the federal states and at federal level.
Before the upcoming elections, it is all the more important not to follow the logic of maintaining power, but to make leadership decisions on the basis of our democratic institutions that enable social life and free economic activity with the virus. The politicians of the Free State of Saxony, who hold the reins of power, are called upon in the association of “decent democrats” to jointly identify solutions for key contemporary issues in the economy, education, health and society.
This plea for freedom, tolerance and free economic activity is supported by: Dehoga, Handelsverband, Landestourismusverband, Netzwerk Logistik Mitteldeutschland, Silicon Saxony, Südwestsachsen Digital, Wirtschaft für ein weltoffenes Sachsen.
About the association WIRTSCHAFT FÜR EIN WELTOFFENES SACHSEN e.V.
Since its foundation at the end of 2016, our association “Wirtschaft für ein weltoffenes Sachsen” (Business for an open-minded Saxony) has assumed social responsibility and taken a stance among the general public, customers and its own workforce. Saxon companies see xenophobic and xenophobic attacks and the associated media coverage as a threat to the economic and entrepreneurial potential of Saxony as a business location.
The association “Wirtschaft für ein weltoffenes Sachsen” wants to counteract these tendencies, among other things as a network with a clear commitment to cosmopolitanism and internationality in the Free State of Saxony. The association would like to make a concrete contribution to strengthening and expanding the existing great potential of Saxony’s economy for the benefit of society as a whole.
Contact for further information:
Office
Wirtschaft für ein weltoffenes Sachsen e. V. Königstraße 4
01097 Dresden
Tel: +49 351 450 4400
Fax: +49 351 450 4200 info@www.welcomesaxony.de