The Berlin economy has been battered by the war

From Hildburg Bruns

The balance sheet of Berlin companies six months after the outbreak of war in the Ukraine is devastating!

The Berlin Partner business development agency primarily surveyed medium-sized industrial companies.

► More than 90 percent feel direct consequences.

► The biggest concerns for 80 percent: higher energy costs, price increases for preliminary products and material procurement.

► 60 percent suffer from supply chain problems.

► 30 percent feel the impact on sales.

► For 26 percent, the crisis is exacerbating the shortage of skilled workers.

After all, every tenth company has already hired skilled workers who have fled from the Ukraine.

Stefan Franzke, head of Berlin Partner

Stefan Franzke, head of Berlin Partner Photo: Wolf Lux

The consequences of inflation are particularly noticeable in the food trade – consumers are clearly holding back.

What the companies are primarily hoping for: general tax breaks to cushion additional costs and bridging aids such as with Corona.

Nevertheless, there are also good figures for the first half of the year: more new jobs (6661 compared to 4430 in the previous year), more money for research and development (73 million euros).

A total of 574 million euros were invested in the Berlin location in the first six months – an increase of 26 percent.

However, a downturn is expected in the coming months. Economics Senator Stephan Schwarz (57, independent): “The shock waves of the Ukraine war will not go past us, we are already feeling them clearly.”

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