Essen: IHK initiates important changes in the Ruhr area!

Essen: IHK initiates important changes in the Ruhr area!

On January 11, 2025, the Chamber of Commerce (IHK) took over the leadership of the Ruhr IHKs in 2023. This decision is part of a strategic realignment that was announced by IHK general manager Kerstin Groß. She emphasized the successful cooperation between the Ruhr-IHKs last year and underlined the challenges that need to be mastered.

Important topics that are to be tackled during their term are a future -proof energy transition and the creation of more available areas for investors. Groß continues to demand a new political agenda for the Ruhr area and emphasizes that Essen should act as the capital of energy in Europe in order to make the transformation sustainable. In the context of these challenges, the upcoming Bundestag election on February 23, 2025 and the local elections in autumn.

economic challenges in the Ruhr area

The IHK President Jutta Kruft-Glengel made significant demands on politics. It demands more investments and public impulses to strengthen the Ruhr area. Dissatisfaction with the Berlin traffic light government is growing because its political power games have negative effects on economic growth.

The serious economic crisis in which Germany is currently in the case of high energy costs, international uncertainties and bureaucracy is reinforced. A massive investment backlog and an acute shortage of skilled workers also put a strain on the companies. The business climate shapes fear and uncertainty, more companies consider the economic policy framework as a significant risk of their business, according to the determination in a current position paper from the Middle Lower Rhine.

success and goals of the Ruhr-ihks

Despite the tense situation, the Ruhr IHKs achieved significant success last year. These include:

• Development of a 10-point plan for better street infrastructure.
• push forward the transformation process for hydrogen as an energy source.
• Creation of the Ruhrlag report for the identification of important fields of action for companies.

These steps are of great importance to improve the economic environment for the 415,000 member companies that represent the chambers in 24 cities and circles. For the upcoming legislative period, the IHKs emphasize the need to address relevant problem areas, including exuberant bureaucracy, energy supply, tax policy and shortage of skilled workers

A comprehensive goal is to promote the innovative strength of the companies so that they can react flexibly to future challenges. The IHK therefore calls for priorities by the new federal government to consistently treat the company situation and to initiate a stable economic upswing.

The top claims decided by the IHK general assembly should also become part of the next coalition agreement in order to ensure a sustainable economic policy and thus to strengthen the financial basis for social challenges. The situation remains tense, and the coming months will be crucial for the further development of economic and location policy in the Ruhr area.

Further information on the goals and the current situation can be found in the reports of Lokalklick.eu, Mittlerer-niederrhein.ihk.de href = "https://mittlererer-niederrhein.ihk.de/de/media/pdf/energie/energiebarometer-2024_ihk-nrw.pdf"> Energy Wendebarometer 2024 .