Last Thursday, the Infrastructure Symposium organised by SaarLB, the Economic Council and the Club des Affaires took place in Saarbrücken. The event was opened by, amongst others, our board member Frank Peter Eloy, who emphasised the importance of modern infrastructure for economic development.
In the subsequent keynote speech by Patrick Schnieder, Federal Minister of Transport, on the topic of “The significance and opportunities of the Infrastructure Special Fund for the Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate economic region”, there was an in-depth discussion of the opportunities presented by the Infrastructure Special Fund. The planned investments of around €170 billion by 2029 will provide a significant boost – particularly for rail.
One thing became very clear: efficient transport routes are crucial for functioning supply chains, competitiveness and sustainable growth – particularly for our region in Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate.
In the subsequent panel discussion with Patrick Schnieder, Philipp Gross, Oliver Wild and Saarland’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Jürgen Barke, it became clear: this is by no means just about infrastructure in the narrow sense. Issues such as the shortage of skilled workers, rising costs and the pressures on the logistics and construction sectors must also be taken into account.
The conclusion of the evening: the right course has been set. Now it is a matter of speeding up planning, consistently implementing investments and providing tangible relief for the economy.
Many thanks to everyone involved for the excellent cooperation, the valuable exchange of ideas and the important impetus for our region.
