New association of business development organisations in Schleswig-Holstein (VdW.SH) founded
A strong alliance for future-proof commercial sites, company relocation, innovation, sustainability, employment, location marketing and more | Three-member board of the new association has been elected
It's all about an economically strong Schleswig-Holstein and the major economic issues of the future. Today, Friday 17 February 2023, the Association of Economic Development Agencies Schleswig-Holstein (VdW.SH) was officially founded in Kiel. The association is supported by 12 business development organisations from across the state. The new association also represents interests vis-à-vis the state, the federal government, the EU and institutions and associations, is a platform for the exchange of experience and further training and a strong mouthpiece for the communication and visibility of common economic issues - in the interests of strengthening Schleswig-Holstein's companies and the business location as a whole.
Business development for future viability
The importance of business development organisations as shapers of structural change has never been greater. How must sustainable, smart business parks be equipped? How can existing sites be revitalised for the future? How can business parks and innovations from universities be brought together? How can local economic development organisations in SH work together to strengthen their position in the competition for business locations? How can the major challenges such as skilled labour, digital transformation and sustainability be implemented quickly and comprehensively? How should the state's economic policy and funding policy be aligned?
The economic policy challenges - due to social, demographic, climatic and digital change - are becoming increasingly complex and multi-layered. It is precisely because the local framework conditions in an area region, on the outskirts of Hamburg or at a university location in the regional centres are different that there is a need for close exchange and an overarching framework. The central task of the newly founded Association of Economic Development Organisations in Schleswig-Holstein (VdW.SH) is to improve the political and economic framework conditions.
"In order to develop Schleswig-Holstein into a sustainable business location, it is becoming increasingly important for the business development organisations to work together in cooperative forms, to deal with the issues of the future together and to actively represent business interests with a strong voice in the state," says the newly elected chairman of the association, Werner Kässens, Managing Director of Kieler Wirtschaftsförderung (KiWi).
Creating framework conditions together and strengthening the economy
Against this backdrop, the question arises as to what needs companies and business locations have now and in the future.
"The digital transformation is more evident in the economy than in almost any other area of society. Companies are increasingly facing up to innovative challenges, and the share of the digital economy, knowledge-intensive services and new technologies is growing in all sectors and regions," emphasises the Deputy Chairman of the newly founded association, Ulf Hahn, Managing Director of Wirtschafts- und Aufbaugesellschaft Stormarn (WAS).
This requires the right framework conditions: The common topics of the economic development agencies are primarily land development for trade and industry - also with regard to the revitalisation of existing areas -, transport and infrastructure policy, settlement policy, location marketing, innovation policy - for example technology transfer and start-ups, employment policy and skilled labour initiatives, sector and cluster policy and funding policy. The German sustainability strategy should also be supported by economic development programmes with innovative and sustainable concepts, especially in the development of commercial space.
"Innovation, good skilled workers and modern business sites will be the drivers of competitiveness, value creation and growth in the future," says Treasurer Dr Matthias Hüppauff, Managing Director of Wirtschaftsförderung Nordfriesland, "and we as business development agencies can pave the way for this by creating the right framework conditions."
The association's new areas of responsibility also include the exchange of experience and further training for employees of Schleswig-Holstein's business development organisations. Communication and visibility for politicians and institutions are also an important part of the plans.
New board as the mouthpiece of the association
At the founding kick-off, the election of a board was on the agenda: Werner Kässens (Managing Director of KiWi, Kieler Wirtschaftsförderung) was elected as Chairman, Ulf Hahn (Managing Director of Wirtschafts- und Aufbaugesellschaft Stormarn) as Deputy Chairman and Dr Matthias Hüppauff (Managing Director of Wirtschaftsförderung Nordfriesland) as Treasurer. This three-member board of active business promoters forms the regional mouthpiece of the Association of Economic Development Organisations in Schleswig-Holstein (VdW.SH), which is now taking up its work as an association for an economically strong and sustainable Schleswig-Holstein.
Responsible for this press release:
KiWi, Kieler Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Strukturentwicklungs GmbH Yvonne Smith, Head of Marketing & Corporate Communications Tel. 0431/2484-290, e-mail: ysmith@kiwi-kiel.de
Editor: Stephanie Degenhart, Marketing & Corporate Communications
Tel. 0431/2484-285, e-mail: sdegenhart@kiwi-kiel.de
