BÖHLEN (dpa-AFX) - In light of the ongoing crisis in the East German chemical industry, employers' associations and trade unions are planning an "East Germany Chemistry Summit" next week. During the event, which will take place in Böhlen near Leipzig, five demands will be presented to the federal government to safeguard chemical industry locations and secure jobs in the sector.
"The situation is dramatic; structural improvements are urgently needed," stated Nora Schmidt-Kesseler, Chief Executive Officer of the North-East Chemistry Associations. Key issues include competitive energy prices and faster approval processes.
According to union sources, the Economics Ministers of Brandenburg, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt are expected to attend the meeting on December 15. The demands to the federal government will be handed over to the Federal Commissioner for Eastern Germany, Elisabeth Kaiser.
According to the IG BCE union, approximately 63,000 people are employed in the chemical-pharmaceutical industry in East Germany. However, plant capacity utilization is only at 70 percent. Among other developments, US-based Dow Chemical announced several months ago that part of its facilities in Schkopau (Saxony-Anhalt) and Böhlen (Saxony) will be closed by the end of 2027./bz/DP/mis
