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Car production in Wolfsburg: China as a saving market
Photo:
Julian Stratenschulte / DPA
German industry is urgently warning against another shutdown of the economy in the second corona wave.
Despite the sharp rise in the number of coronavirus infections, the Federal Association of German Industry (BDI) appeals to refrain from another general shutdown of the German economy if possible.
"A second lockdown would jeopardize the existence of numerous companies in Germany," said BDI President Dieter Kempf to the newspapers of the Funke media group.
He called on the federal government to present "a prudent autumn strategy" against the pandemic "with a clever mix of tailored measures by the federal and state governments".
BDI: Citizens can secure their own jobs through discipline
Kempf urged citizens to take responsibility for themselves: with disciplined behavior they could avoid endangering public life and economic activity.
In this way, citizens could also ensure that their own jobs are kept, said the BDI President.
Priority must be given to local responsibility for the containment measures, demanded Kempf.
The primary goal for the federal government and the governments of the federal states must remain "to prevent lockdowns, even if they should take place for a limited time".
In order to contain the consequences of the first Corona kink, the black-red coalition had already launched an economic stimulus package worth billions and extensive economic aid.
But the industry was not able to assert itself everywhere: The purchase premium demanded mainly by the auto industry for modern combustion engines failed due to the resistance of the SPD.
In view of the renewed restrictions now being discussed, the industry president called it unnecessary "to quarantine large parts of the population across the board".
Instead, he called for a more differentiated test strategy and closer tracking of the infection chains.
With comprehensive protective regulations, a complete shutdown of the industry can be avoided and the cross-border movement of goods and people in Europe can be maintained despite the increasing number of infections, said the BDI boss.
Another interruption in the supply chain, as in the spring, would be "fatal for Germany as an export nation", he said.
In particular, the Chinese business, which has now picked up strongly again, has so far saved many German producers from even greater slumps.
At the same time, however, the ongoing structural change in numerous areas - in the automotive industry, for example, the switch to e-mobility - is placing an additional burden on the industry.
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