Carsten Harder says that politicians are currently lacking a focus on overcoming the structural economic problems in the Ruhr Metropolitan Region. (Photo: © Frank Rogner)
Read aloud:
October 2019
Carsten Harder, Managing Director of the Dortmund Chamber of Skilled Crafts, speaks with the Handwerksblatt newspaper about the development of the Ruhr region after the phase-out of coal. While some things are moving in the right direction, many opportunities are being missed.
In competition with other metropolitan regions, the Ruhr region must regain its economic strength, demand the skilled trades sector in the Ruhr area. It is crucial to reduce long-term unemployment and counteract the shortage of skilled workers.
Handwerksblatt: A little over a year ago, the Ruhr Chambers of Skilled Crafts and District Skilled Crafts Associations formulated their expectations for the development of the metropolitan region after the phase-out of coal in a position paper. Have the concerns of the skilled crafts sector been heard at all political levels, and do you feel that they are being acted upon?
Harder: We have received a lot of positive feedback and input from politicians. Overall, however, a targeted and structured development toward a SME-oriented approach in the region is still lacking. The 75 project ideas developed as part of the Ruhr Conference unfortunately reinforce this impression. Overall, the project proposals largely lack a focus on overcoming the region's structural economic problems and instead aim to serve everyone. The certainly limited financial resources cannot be focused on what is needed.
Handwerksblatt: In your view, economic monostructures have proven uncompetitive in the region because they were too inflexible. Can you already see the mental shift toward smaller, decentralized units that you are calling for?
Harder: Solutions achieved by the public sector or those to be implemented by large-scale structures continue to play a significant role. The region still has considerable room for improvement, both in the recognition that decentralization and a multitude of smaller, individual measures can trigger new structural developments, as well as in the application of suitable instruments and the corresponding focus. However, we urgently need the flexibility and openness we demand to promote sustainable and forward-looking economic units and strengthen innovation processes.
Handwerksblatt: You're calling for excellent vocational training opportunities, especially for the Ruhr region. What's happened in the last year?
Harder: The shortage of skilled workers and trainees is currently the greatest economic risk in the Ruhr Metropolis. Companies are finding it increasingly difficult to fill their apprenticeship positions. In addition to demographics, the ongoing changes in the world of work brought about by digitalization will further exacerbate the problem. It is therefore more important than ever to strengthen the attractiveness and effectiveness of dual training, continuing education, and continuing professional development. The "Modernization Pact for Vocational Training," recently signed by the state and industry, is therefore a correct and important step. When we discuss the equivalence of academic and vocational education, the introduction of the NRW Trainee Ticket is also a valuable signal.
Panorama - Society
Craft policy
Craft policy
Handwerksblatt: You're also calling for a small-business-oriented administration. How far are the state and municipalities in implementing a simpler administration?
Harder: Numerous efforts are underway in the region, particularly through digitalization, to achieve transparency and efficiency in the administrative structure. However, only a few concrete measures have been identified or are currently being implemented. As part of the Ruhr Conference, the Chambers of Commerce therefore proposed a digital government portal project. The goal is to create a unified portal that would facilitate communication with the administration for businesses and citizens and help avoid isolated municipal solutions. We are committed to the project proposal because we firmly believe that the Ruhr region would benefit significantly from it as a business location.
Handwerksblatt: How much of a burden does the public sector's entrepreneurial activity, which you criticize, place on small and medium-sized businesses in the Ruhr region?
Harder: Excessive economic activity fundamentally weakens local small and medium-sized businesses. A healthy and high-performing economy is always based on natural competition. Economic policy intervention rarely contributes to the sustainable development of a business location.
Handwerksblatt: The state parliament has approved changes to the state development plan. Municipalities now have more leeway in designating land. What do you expect from the municipalities in light of the land shortages that exist for businesses, particularly in the Ruhr region?
Harder: The changes to the State Development Plan must be incorporated into the Ruhr Regional Plan to provide more scope for economic development. The regional plan should provide a coherent concept for solving the region's structural problems. However, since the preparation process for the Ruhr Regional Plan has been postponed until after the direct elections to the Ruhr Parliament in 2020, probably until 2023, this opportunity has now been lost for the time being. It is now time to look ahead and prepare the new regional plan carefully but also purposefully. In doing so, the conditions for dynamic economic development must be created. Higher priority must be given to the preservation and creation of jobs and thus to the designation of sufficiently available commercial land. In addition, the remediation of contaminated sites must be comprehensive, particularly in heavily contaminated areas. In the meantime, regional plan amendment procedures must be initiated promptly. Stagnation must not occur.
The questions were asked by Lars Otten
Newsletter
Write a comment