Industrial reception of the IV Salzburg with 75th anniversary
Salzburg (Austria) General Assembly of the Salzburg Industry Association on May 2nd, 2022 in the World of Windhager – Re-election of IV President Unterkofler – Focus on future issues – digital energy supply, changes and transformation – Industry as a growth engine as a stable anchor in times of crisis – Fight for a master plan for energy supply
“For two years of the pandemic, the Salzburg industry has proven that it can withstand a crisis. Especially in these turbulent times, we have shown once again that industry with a 25% share of added value – tourism and trade can only do this together – can be an incredibly safer anchor,” said IV Salzburg President Peter Unterkofler after his re-election at the general meeting May 2 emphasizes self-confidence. “But now we are facing completely new, and above all really threatening, challenges and scenarios for the industry. Exports lost as a result of the devastating war in the middle of Europe go to the two affected countries, we struggle every day with the broken supply chains and our greatest concern is the energy supply. Even if it is an uncomfortable truth – we cannot do without Russian gas overnight,” Unterkofler sums up the facts.
Security of energy supply and capital market in focus
Furthermore, urgent requests were made to the guests Chancellor Nehammer and Finance Minister Brunner that evening: Salzburg industry needs immediate electricity price compensation, in the long term a transformation fund for the phase-out of fossil fuels and a master plan for the energy policy of the next generations – because climate policy is the same as energy policy. Furthermore, the IV Salzburg President called for an examination of the efficiency and attractiveness of the capital market. “From private pension provision to corporate financing, a strong capital market affects us all and forms the basis for the economic stability of a location – especially in times of low interest rates and inflation that we have not seen in 40 years,” explains Unterkofler .
Finance Minister Magnus Brunner was asked about measures taken by the federal government to counter high energy costs: “While other countries are still discussing possible measures, we have already put together two packages with a total volume of 4 billion euros. The increase in the advance payment of energy taxes as part of the energy tax refund, the reduction of energy taxes to the minimum permissible under EU law and the possibility of reducing the advance payments for income and corporation tax are already effective or have been decided. Measures of the tax reform for companies, such as the reduction of the corporate tax, are of course implemented. The same applies, of course, to electricity price compensation and the establishment of a transformation fund to switch to a sustainable energy supply, about which there are already intensive discussions within the coalition.”
“Current geopolitical developments have triggered a rethink in Europe – especially in the areas of industry and production. The corona pandemic and currently the war in Ukraine with all its economic implications clearly show that real independence and resilience are only possible with a strong industrial location. It is the task of politics to create the necessary framework conditions for this and to ensure that the gas supply to the companies continues to be guaranteed. As the federal government, we are clearly committed to domestic industry. It is our partner when it comes to overcoming the great challenges of the future, creating jobs and thus maintaining prosperity in our country,” said Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer.
“Price developments for energy and raw materials, record inflation and disrupted supply chains are having a massive impact on our competitiveness. We have to take smart countermeasures and give companies more room to breathe. Now we need relief packages that have a cost-cutting effect and also targeted measures that strengthen the competitiveness of industry – such as the implementation of electricity price compensation,” explained Georg Knill, President of IV-Austria, as part of his welcoming speech in the World of Windhager. In order to increase price stability, the IV advocates a properly designed relief course: “The discussion about the abolition of cold progression is going in the right direction. Especially in the crisis situation, it would not only be a question of fairness for people at work, but also the right time to strengthen purchasing power in the long term. We also have to start with non-wage labor costs and take steps to reduce them quickly,” says Knill.