Economic talks

Styrian economy: “Incentives instead of bans”

Helmenstein, Schaller, Edtstadler (from left).(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

In the run-up to the upcoming elections, Styrian captains of industry are calling for a reduction in bureaucracy and regulation. Climate protection and economic growth are not a contradiction in terms.

A super election year in economically not too rosy times: The results of this year's European, National Council and Styrian regional elections will be decisive for the economic direction of the coming years. For this reason, Raiffeisenlandesbank and the Styrian Federation of Industry held their annual economic discussion under the motto "Economic policy compass for the next legislative period".

Climate protection does not exclude growth
Styrian Raiffeisen Director General Martin Schaller began by emphasizing that innovation and further development require "incentives instead of prohibitions": "Bureaucracy and excessive regulation must be reduced at all levels." Climate protection and targeted economic growth can be demonstrably reconciled, Schaller said yesterday at the Raiffeisen headquarters in Raaba in front of around 500 guests from politics, business and science - including Governor Christopher Drexler and Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler.

"Bureaucracy and excessive regulation must be reduced at all levels."

Martin Schaller, Generaldirektor Raiffeisenlandesbank Steiermark

Christian Helmenstein, IV's chief economist, praised the innovative spirit of local companies, but also appealed to politicians to position the country more strongly as an investment location and to focus more on countries "that are not the usual role models in some areas" in terms of economic policy.