Over 200 participants at the first Salzburg Economic Forum
Salzburg (Austria) The Salzburg Economic Forum took place for the first time on May 5th – more than 200 participants from business, science and society came together in the Salzburg Congress. High-ranking speakers will illuminate the general topic “Competitive location – technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, values” from different perspectives. The top-class event is characterized by exciting topics, valuable impulses and a wide range of opportunities for contacts, dialogue and the exchange of experiences.
The Salzburg Economic Forum was organized by the Salzburg Federation of Industrialists in cooperation with renowned partners from business, science and the media. IV Salzburg President Peter Unterkofler and Governor Wilfried Haslauer welcomed the exciting speakers and guests.
“For the Salzburg industrial companies, the energy supply is currently the absolute core issue. Every week without gas in Salzburg’s industry, 50 companies are directly affected and 10,217 jobs (3.1% of Salzburg’s workforce) are at risk. It would cost us EUR 39.3 million in direct value creation in the companies directly affected and a further EUR 16.7 million in indirect value creation in the upstream value chain. Overall, this would be 56.0 million euros added value, which corresponds to a share of 11.6% of Salzburg’s economy. So every week without gas supply in Salzburg has about the same effect as a week without any retail trade or 2 weeks during the corona pandemic. The industry is therefore urgently warning of the dramatic consequences of an oil and gas embargo,” explains IV Salzburg President Peter Unterkofler.
“In the next few years, we will have to pay just as much attention to the changed conditions on the labor market,” said Unterkofler right at the beginning, emphasizing the importance of Labor Minister Martin Kocher’s participation. According to an IV survey, the availability of qualified personnel is the absolute top issue for two out of three companies in the next few years. In the manufacturing sector, it is now almost impossible to find well-trained employees, especially with technical training. Unterkofler therefore demanded from Federal Minister Kocher: “a labor market reform with new regulations on unemployment, a reconsideration of the reasonable limits, the strengthening of the performance principle and an urgent revision of the red-white-red card in general”.
With his expertise, BM Kocher opened up valuable insights into the current challenges in the labor market and his ideas for redesigning labor market policy. “The primary goal is to keep the business location efficient in the global competition for the best minds,” said the Federal Minister of Labor in his presentation at the Salzburg Economic Forum. The shortage of skilled workers will be countered with measures from the job offensive and the environmental foundation, but also with the skilled labor barometer, which will provide an overview of the sectors particularly affected.
“Salzburg is becoming more and more important as an attractive location for international companies that are setting up their headquarters here. Salzburg is extremely interesting as a location and offers a multitude of advantages, because on the one hand the living conditions are excellent, on the other hand the economic framework conditions are right and last but not least the favorable geographic location with the existing infrastructure. Creating the best possible framework conditions for companies, offering quick processes or platforms to network companies in research & development or digitization and thus supporting the transfer of knowledge are the basis for continuing to position ourselves even more strongly as an attractive location with a future,” says Governor Wilfried Haslauer .
Anastassia Lauterbach, Professor of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and member of the Supervisory Board, will enable the lectures to begin. She is a sought-after expert on future topics and offers an insight into how AI is changing our lives. The renowned lawyer and committed women’s and human rights activist Seyran Ates spoke about her fight against the instrumentalization of religion for purposes. Klaus Josef Lutz, CEO of the energy and raw materials group Baywa AG, is a constant admonisher, driver and innovator for a trustworthy European business location.
In the concluding panel discussion, the status, perspectives and challenges for the home location were discussed together with the audience. A cozy conclusion with a flying buffet and wine tasting rounded off the exciting day with interesting impressions, ideas and food for thought.