Germany’s businesses in danger: dihk warns of declining competitiveness

The Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) is sounding the alarm: the competitiveness of many German companies is in danger. The reason for this, he said, is the poor willingness of companies to invest, as well as increasing bureaucracy and regulation. This was reported by the DIHK in a recently published study looking at the current state of the German economy.

According to the study, small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly affected by declining competitiveness. These would have invested significantly less than their international competitors in recent years. There is also criticism that the German government has failed to support companies through a targeted industrial policy.

The DIHK’s warnings are worrying because the competitiveness of German companies is of enormous importance for the German economy as a whole. Especially in times of increasing international competition and unstable global markets, German companies should be able to compete successfully. But higher costs, a lack of innovative strength and an excessive bureaucracy make it difficult for many companies to keep up with international competition.

It is to be hoped that the German government will take the DIHK’s warnings seriously and take targeted measures to strengthen the competitiveness of German companies. Otherwise, Germany is in danger of losing touch with the top of the international economy.

DIHK sees competitiveness of German companies in danger

The Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) has expressed concerns about the competitiveness of many German businesses. According to the DIHK, rising energy prices, high labor costs and increasingly complex rules and regulations for companies in particular pose a threat to competitiveness.

Small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly affected by these challenges. They often do not have the resources to compete on the international market, for example. The shortage of skilled workers and digitization also pose a challenge for many companies.

In order to strengthen competitiveness, the DIHK therefore calls for relief in energy costs and a simplification of rules and regulations. The promotion of digitization and innovations is also important in order to keep up, it says. Ultimately, however, each company must take action itself and adapt to the changed conditions.

• Energy costs: rising
• Labor costs: high
• Rules and regulations: increasingly complex
• Shortage of skilled workers: a challenge for companies
• Digitization: important role for competitiveness

Overall, the DIHK sees the competitiveness of many German companies in jeopardy. It is now necessary to take action and face the challenges in order to be successful in the future, he said.

Why the competitiveness of many German companies is at risk

The competitiveness of German companies is impaired by various factors. One important reason is the high cost pressure resulting from a variety of factors. First and foremost, wages and salaries play a major role, which are not increasing due to strong competitive pressure in many industries. At the same time, however, the cost of energy, raw materials and transport is rising, further reducing companies’ profit margins.

Another factor affecting the competitiveness of many German companies is bureaucratic barriers. German companies often have to meet stringent requirements and go through complex approval procedures compared to their competitors from other countries. This leads to high costs and delays that limit the flexibility and responsiveness of companies.

Another important factor is the lack of innovative capability of many German companies. There is often a lack of investment in research and development and a lack of willingness to develop new business models and products. As a result, German companies are losing competitiveness to their international competitors, who are often much more agile and can react more quickly to changes in the marketplace.

• High cost pressure
• Bureaucratic barriers
• Lack of innovative capacity

If German companies want to maintain and expand their competitiveness, they must respond to these challenges. This includes investment in employees, machinery and technology, as well as closer cooperation with other companies and policymakers. This is the only way companies can remain competitive in the future and maintain their position in the global marketplace.

Impact on the German economy

The DIHK warns that the competitiveness of many German companies is at risk. The reason for this is the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on the entire economy. Exports, which are severely restricted due to the measures taken to contain the pandemic, are particularly affected. The automotive industry suffers from supply bottlenecks for important components from abroad. The retail and hospitality sectors are also struggling with massive sales losses.

These developments not only affect the companies themselves, but also have an impact on jobs and the economy as a whole. Many companies will be forced to declare short-time work or even have to file for insolvency. The government has provided emergency aid, but it is unclear how long this can keep companies afloat.

• In addition, there is great uncertainty about future developments.
• How long will the measures against the pandemic last?
• How the global economy will recover?
• What impact will Brexit have?

German companies now have to maintain their competitiveness in spite of the challenging environment. Digitization and innovations play an important role here. This is the only way companies can be successful in the long term and get the German economy back on track.

How can the competitiveness of German companies be improved??

Competitiveness is a decisive factor for the success of companies. The DIHK also sees that many German companies are currently at risk. To improve the situation, there are various measures that can be taken.

One important aspect is digitization. Many companies still have some catching up to do here and should therefore invest to remain competitive. It is also important to differentiate oneself on the market and create a unique selling proposition. A targeted marketing strategy can be helpful here.

• Improving product quality: high quality products can help retain customers and raise brand awareness.
• Increasing efficiency: Optimizing business processes can save time and money.
• Internationalization: Opening up new markets can help secure and strengthen competitiveness.

However, not only measures should be taken at the company level, but also politics should play a role here. It is therefore important to create framework conditions that promote the competitiveness of companies.

The bottom line: competitiveness of German companies at risk

In a recent study, the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) found that the competitiveness of many German companies is in jeopardy. The study is based on a survey of 27.000 companies and shows that smaller and medium-sized companies in particular are affected by rising costs and a shortage of skilled workers.

To strengthen the competitiveness of German companies, the DIHK recommends more targeted support for innovations and investments, as well as better training for skilled workers. Stronger cooperation between companies and politics is also needed to meet the challenges together, he said.

• Rising costs are a burden on companies
• Lack of skilled workers complicates work processes
• More targeted promotion of innovation and investment needed
• Better training of skilled workers needed
• Stronger cooperation with politics necessary

It remains to be seen whether and how policymakers will react to the results of the study and what concrete measures will be taken to strengthen the competitiveness of German businesses.