Table of contents:
- Production fell 4.2 percent
- Clear regulation with data required
- The electronics industry can make a major contribution to climate protection
Video: ZVEI Does Not Expect Growth In 2020
2023 Author: Hannah Pearcy | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-24 11:12
At the annual press conference of the ZVEI, the electrical industry association looked back on the past year. In 2019, the German electronics industry was only able to grow its exports. Production, sales and order intake suffered declines.
Production fell 4.2 percent
ZVEI President Michael Ziesemer explains: “The German electrical industry is heavily involved in global value creation processes. The simultaneous worldwide weakness in trade, investment and industrial production in the past year hit the industry."
From January to November, price-adjusted production was 4.2 percent lower than in 2018, and sales fell 1.2 percent to EUR 175.6 billion. At best, the ZVEI expects a stable development in production for the coming year.
Despite the economic slowdown, the number of employees in the German electrical industry has remained almost stable. It currently has 888,000 employees.
Clear regulation with data required
In addition, the ZVEI demands clear rules for the data and platform economy to ensure social trust as the basis for a successful data economy. Ziesemer explains: “Personal data is particularly worth protecting. Nevertheless, it is important that they are available anonymously if they can bring benefits to society as a whole.”One example is the health sector.
The ZVEI calls for an intensive discussion about the future use of data in Germany and Europe and presents a discussion proposal with the "Guidelines of the German electrical industry for responsible use of data and platforms". It is important to be able to use existing data better for industrial innovations and new business models in the future. "The data economy is an opportunity to strengthen the industry in Europe in particular in international competition," the ZVEI President further emphasized. "The EU Commission must now complete the digital single market: it is the key to the technological sovereignty of our continent."
The electronics industry can make a major contribution to climate protection
The ZVEI also wants to contribute to climate protection. Technological innovations are essential for effective climate protection. Wolfgang Weber, new CEO of ZVEI, says: “The electronics industry in particular already offers central solutions - for all relevant sectors: traffic, buildings, energy and industry. Electrification is an important lever for less CO 2 emissions."
Electricity must therefore be the most important energy source, and the adequate pricing of the greenhouse gas CO 2 is correct. CO 2 must become more expensive and clean electricity cheaper so that there are enough incentives to switch from fossil to renewable energies.
The ZVEI criticized the entire system of energy levies, levies and taxes, which should be checked and coordinated with one another - "ideally at the European level," said Weber.
