innsbruck

By Nina Werlberger

Thursday, 22.08.2024, 12:20

The Tyrol Chamber of Commerce is calling for support for Tyrolean small and medium-sized businesses. It is demanding that all authorities award their contracts to local companies. The business representatives are appealing to consumers to shop locally rather than online in China.

More and more small retailers and business owners in Tyrol are having to close down because they lack customers and orders. Since the end of the Corona pandemic, there has been an increase in purchases from online giants from the USA and China, complained representatives of the Tyrol Chamber of Commerce (WK) on Thursday. They called for “fair contract awarding” by all authorities and public clients. They called on consumers to consciously shop regionally.

Public sector should award contracts locally

“We are calling for support for local companies. Small and medium-sized businesses should be supported,” said Dietmar Hernegger, chairman of the Information and Consulting division in the Tyrol Chamber of Commerce. This is necessary in order to strengthen the regional economic cycle, sustainability and environmental protection and to preserve Tyrolean jobs. Specifically, Hernegger called for “the commissioning of local companies by all authorities.” He argued that the public sector is financed by companies, which is why they should also get something back from them.

The chamber wants this to be implemented in practice by placing greater emphasis on the so-called best bidder principle in the tender process. The officials confirmed that this is already being done in many cases, but the offer with the lowest price is often still accepted.

Consider apprentices and short distances

The best bidder principle does not only use price as the only decisive criterion, but ecological, regional and qualitative criteria also play a role. Specifically, the Chamber would like authorities to stipulate certain other criteria in addition to price in the future that only local companies can meet. This could be a minimum number of apprentices and skilled workers employed or short response times, explained Veronika Opbacher-Egger, deputy chairwoman of the trade and craft sector.

If a contract is put out to tender using this system, the price would only count for 70 percent of the award, and the other criteria for 30 percent. Martin Wetscher, Vice President of the Tyrol Chamber of Commerce, was convinced that this would not make public projects much more expensive. The price for such tenders usually only fluctuates by a few percentage points, he said.

Who should be supported?

According to the WK, companies with headquarters or branches in Tyrol should be able to take part in public tenders – but only if they also employ people here. “If someone only has a business license for Tyrol and has an office chair and a computer here, that is not enough,” noted Hernegger.

Trade never dies, it just changes

Martin Wetscher, Vice President of the Tyrol Chamber of Commerce

Martin Wetscher also emphasized the role of consumers in maintaining small domestic businesses. It is visible in many cities and towns across the country that small businesses are having problems and are closing down, he said. There are no figures on how many businesses have had to close over time, but the trend since the end of the pandemic is clear: there have been significant declines in retail locations and sales. Furniture, sporting goods and clothing stores are particularly affected. At the same time, more and more people are shopping online at supposed or actual cheap providers.

In order to strengthen the regional economy, consumer awareness is necessary. “They decide whether there is a pub or a retailer in a place or not,” said Wetscher. Tyrolean retailers, in turn, must manage to “move into the new era” and manage both their local business and their online channel well. And finally, the municipalities and mayors must take care of their inner cities, said Wetscher. The development in St. Johann and Hall is positive, but the WK vice-president also sees Wörgl and Telfs on the right track. A town center today must be managed like a shopping center, he said. And he is convinced: “Retail never dies, it just always changes.”

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