Helmut Zimmer is the new president of the Interregional Council of Chambers of Skilled Crafts.

The focus of the term of office until 2030 will be on strengthening vocational education and securing skilled workers in the Greater Region.

The election took place during the General Assembly on September 23, 2026, at the Chambre des Métiers Luxembourg . Zimmer will assume the office for the term 2026 to 2030 from Philippe Fischer, who was appointed Honorary President after four years at the helm of the IRH . Fischer is President of the Chambre de Métiers et de l'Artisanat de la Moselle.

The IRH unites the chambers of crafts and trade associations from Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, Luxembourg, Wallonia, and the Grand Est/Lorraine region . It comprises eight member organizations covering the entire Greater Region. The IRH's general secretariat is located at the Luxembourg Chamber of Crafts.

Key tasks until 2030

The focus of Zimmer's term of office until 2030 will be on strengthening vocational training and securing skilled workers in the Greater Region. Furthermore, cross-border networks are to be expanded and internships for trainees in neighboring regions promoted. In addition, Zimmer aims to raise awareness of the importance of skilled trades for employment, infrastructure, and regional value creation.

With 296.790 businesses, 886.824 employees , and 32.295 apprentices, the skilled trades sector is a key driver of economic development in the Greater Region ( figures as of 2024 ). Further priorities for the IRH in the coming years include innovation, the circular economy, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, as well as the deepening of the European single market. "One goal is to facilitate cross-border activities for small and medium-sized enterprises and skilled trades businesses," said Helmut Zimmer following the election. During the general assembly, the plenary also adopted recommendations for the Greater Region summit on the topic of "Skilled Trades Meet AI."

Background: General Assembly. Further information is available online here.

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Further news from the district of the Saarland Chamber of Crafts