Business Conference in Rankweil: Vorarlberg needs courageous decisions!

Business Conference in Rankweil: Vorarlberg needs courageous decisions!

The location conference of the Vorarlberg Chamber of Commerce (WKV) focused on the region's economic challenges. Over 300 guests, including entrepreneurs and politicians, gathered in the Rankweil firmament to discuss the pressing problems. WKV President Karlheinz Kopf made it clear that rising energy prices, high interest rates and a lack of skilled workers are putting an enormous strain on export-oriented material goods production. He also called for targeted economic and location policies to strengthen competitiveness. “Our companies need fewer bureaucratic hurdles and more investment in infrastructure and innovation,” says Kopf. The WKV plans to hold such conferences annually in the future in order to continuously monitor progress VOL.AT reported.

Skills shortage and infrastructure problems

A central concern was also the shortage of skilled workers, which, according to the state council of Marco Tittler, must be approached. With over 50 million euros, the state government is planning measures to cover the need for skilled workers. This includes not only the promotion of dual training paths, but also tax relief to create incentives for work. Tittler also explained the need for investments in the infrastructure, since an integrated traffic concept is urgently needed. Entrepreneur Wolfram Senger-Weiss described the traffic situation as a "poverty certificate" and called for an equivalent treatment of street and rail, as was also in a report by Economic Bund-VBG was highlighted.

The increasingly strict regulations were also recognized as a significant obstacle. Monika Köppl-Turyna emphasized that the large number of new EU requirements are causing an immense cost. Of course, innovative solutions must be found to master these challenges. "In the United States, the innovation is being innovated, while regulating in Europe," WKV Vice President Edi Fischer illustrated the urgency of a reduction in bureaucracy in order to strengthen Vorarlberg as a location despite this adversity.