Politicians call on government to save German shipbuilding
Politicians from Germany’s coastal states on Thursday called on the government to help save the country's shipbuilding industry.
Ahead of a meeting for shipbuilders, Schleswig-Holstein state premier Peter Harry Carstensen told financial daily Handelsblatt that the government needs to step in and help solve problems in the industry.
“I expect that the meeting of the maritime coordinator with the coastal states will bring progress in solving the long-running financial problems in the maritime economy,” he told the paper.
German shipbuilders must be able to “build ships in Germany again,” he added, suggesting aid for work in new technology.
Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania’s state premier Erwin Sellering also said the industry was at a critical point.
Sellering told broadcaster NDR that Chancellor Angela Merkel must make a decision soon to encourage German banks to finance new shipyard projects.
“Otherwise it will be too late for the shipbuilders in northern Germany,” he said.
The global financial crisis has affected shipbuilders around the world, he added, predicting that only 40 to 50 percent would survive.
“But I want the northern German companies to make it,” he told NDR.
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Ahead of a meeting for shipbuilders, Schleswig-Holstein state premier Peter Harry Carstensen told financial daily Handelsblatt that the government needs to step in and help solve problems in the industry.
“I expect that the meeting of the maritime coordinator with the coastal states will bring progress in solving the long-running financial problems in the maritime economy,” he told the paper.
German shipbuilders must be able to “build ships in Germany again,” he added, suggesting aid for work in new technology.
Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania’s state premier Erwin Sellering also said the industry was at a critical point.
Sellering told broadcaster NDR that Chancellor Angela Merkel must make a decision soon to encourage German banks to finance new shipyard projects.
“Otherwise it will be too late for the shipbuilders in northern Germany,” he said.
The global financial crisis has affected shipbuilders around the world, he added, predicting that only 40 to 50 percent would survive.
“But I want the northern German companies to make it,” he told NDR.
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