“The large cities in the Chamber District have significantly higher application rates than the surrounding counties,” reports Dr. Handirk von Ungern-Sternberg, member of the management of the Freiburg Chamber of Crafts. While around 30 percent of the companies in the entire Ortenaukreis applied for emergency aid, the share in the city of Offenburg was significantly higher at just under 38 percent. The difference between the district of Emmendingen (around 34 percent) and the city of Emmendingen (around 43 percent) is nine percentage points. “We find the biggest difference between the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district and the city of Freiburg,” emphasizes von Ungern-Sternberg. “In the district the value is 34 percent, in Freiburg it is over 44 percent.” The district of Lörrach has a total value of around 37 percent, while in the city of Lörrach almost 46 percent of the companies have made an application.
“There are several factors responsible for these differences,” reports von Ungern-Sternberg. On the one hand, the proportion of companies with a commercial share, as well as hairdressers and beauticians, is higher in the regional centers. “These companies were particularly hard hit by slumps in sales due to closures.” Higher rents and maintenance costs – and thus a faster liquidity bottleneck – can also play a role in the metropolitan areas.
North-south divide in the chamber district:
A look at the numbers also provides a further insight: “Within our chamber district, we can see a strong north-south divide in the applications,” explains von Ungern-Sternberg. While 31 percent of all craft businesses in the Ortenau applied for emergency aid, the value in the district of Lörrach was almost 39 percent. Emmendingen and the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district are between 35 percent and 34 percent. “So the south is affected much more – in addition to the higher rents and location costs close to the Swiss border, this is particularly due to the double border closure in the border triangle.” Unsurprisingly, this intensified the economic damage caused by the corona crisis in the border regions.
“Investments must still be able to be implemented”:
In view of these figures, quick decisions are now necessary, the board demands. “The best way out of the crisis is now to work for our companies,” emphasizes Johannes Ullrich, President of the Freiburg Chamber of Crafts. “In the border regions – especially in the border triangle – the way across the border must also be clear.” The current easing and the border openings announced for mid-June are important steps towards a normality in which the handicraft businesses return to their work with customers can pursue. “Switzerland, France and Germany should once again see the corona crisis as a problem that cannot only be solved at the national level.” All sides must carefully examine their existing border measures and – in line with the infection process – reduce restrictions. “In particular, the bureaucratic processes have to be simplified again so that the triangle region is not disproportionately disadvantaged.”
From the Chamber’s perspective, the announced economic support measures should now help precisely where they are needed. “Both private and public investments that were planned must continue to be implemented,” Ullrich concludes. “Only then will most of the craft businesses come through this crisis without lasting damage.”
(Press release: Freiburg Chamber of Crafts, 06/02/2020)
–
