Berlin – Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Sigmar Gabriel today founded the “Future of Industry” Alliance together with labor unions and business associations. Federal Minister Gabriel had called for the formation of the alliance on November 25, 2014, together with IG Metall Chairman Detlef Wetzel and BDI President Ulrich Grillo. At today’s inaugural meeting, the alliance partners agreed on key points regarding the alliance’s structure and operating procedures and defined its main areas of focus.
Federal Minister Sigmar Gabriel: “Today we brought together 14 different partners from politics, business, and labor unions and founded the ‘Future of Industry’ alliance. Such a broad alliance sends a strong signal for the future of industry in Germany. A competitive industrial sector and high-quality industrial jobs are central to Germany’s position as a business location. The alliance’s goal is therefore to develop concrete recommendations for action on the most pressing issues. In addition, however, we also need a dialogue on industrial and social policy. After all, we need greater acceptance of the core functions that our industry fulfills in terms of prosperity, growth, innovation, and future-proof jobs.”
IG Metall Chairman Detlef Wetzel: “The German industrial unions are committed to an alliance for ‘The Future of Industry.’ The goal is to improve the conditions for more growth and employment. To achieve this, the alliance partners must focus on those issues where they agree on the substance. If we agree on clear rules and structures and avoid anything that leads to a policy of mutual overburdening, we will succeed together.”
BDI President Ulrich Grillo: “My goal is for us, as part of this alliance, to launch a societal campaign in favor of industrial investment and jobs, as well as for greater societal acceptance in Germany. This will benefit our entrepreneurs, our employees, and our country.”
Five working groups will develop recommendations for action on the core topics of public acceptance of industry, strengthening investment activity, the future of work in industry and industry-related services, value-added structures of the future, and the international competitiveness of German industry. The alliance’s goals and tasks were set forth by the 14 alliance partners in a joint declaration.
The partners also agreed to establish a “Future of Industry” network by summer 2015. The network is intended to spark a discussion on industrial and social policy regarding the role and significance of industry for Germany and the conditions necessary for its successful operation.
The next meeting of the High-Level Group is scheduled to take place in the fall of 2015. The initial findings from the working groups are to be discussed at that time.
Members of the “Future of Industry” alliance include IG Metall, IG BAU, IG BCE, DGB, BDI, BACV, BDA, Gesamtmetall, HDB, VCI, VDA, VDMA, ZVEI, and the BMWi.
The Joint Declaration on the “Future of Industry” Alliance, as well as a paper on the alliance’s structure and operating procedures, are available on the BMWi website.
To the press release
