The Hamburg Chamber of Commerce has called on state politicians to do more for the future of the business location. There are “many examples of how the economy in our city is not given the necessary priority,” said Chamber of Commerce President Norbert Aust on Tuesday at the “Assembly of an Honorable Merchant”. He appealed to the invited guests from politics around Hamburg’s First Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) to listen to the suggestions from business.
The outlook for the Hamburg economy for the coming year is rather bleak, said Aust. In addition to investing in infrastructure, he called for reforms to reduce regulations. The Chamber of Commerce President welcomed the entry of the major Swiss shipping company MSC into the municipal port logistics company HHLA. To further strengthen the location, more competition is needed, said Aust, who suggested expanding the port on unused land.
Aust firmly rejected subsidies for the private sector or employee-friendly proposals such as a four-day week. “Pleasing everyone and everyone” could work well for a while, he emphasized. “But in the end we risk losing everything,” said Aust. In order to solve the shortage of skilled workers, the volume of work must be increased. “Above all, that means working more and longer,” said Aust. (dpa)