Forum IPW - Industriepark Walsrode

6
Business Location Germany
Support scheme for SMEs
Investment
start-up grants
The former administrative district of
Lüneburg is a development area aided
by the European Union until 2013.
Under this scheme the rural district
of Soltau-Fallingbostel and its towns
and boroughs can be awarded investment
grants for small and mediumsized
enterprises (SMEs). The investment
grant is non-repayable and may
amount to a maximum of 15 per cent
of the investment sum qualifying for
an EU business grant in the case
of small enterprises and up to 7.5
per cent in the case of medium-sized
companies.
Eligibility for an SME
investment grant:
■ Company registered or about
to be registered in the rural
district of Soltau-Fallingbostel
■ Applications may be submitted
by: businesses in industry,
crafts, commerce, hotel and
service enterprises
■ Small or medium-sized
enterprise
■ The investment has not yet
begun
Alongside the grants obtainable
through the rural district, there are
further grant schemes offered by
the NBank. In particular companies
achieving their turnover predominantly
beyond the region may receive
subsidies from the joint programme
for “Improvement of Regional Economic
Structure”.
For more information on
the SME grants scheme,
the rural district’s guidelines and
the application forms, log onto the
websites www.soltau-fallingbostel.de
and www.nbank.de
Source: www.soltau-fallingbostel.de
© Industrial Park Walsrode 01.2008
Wage costs
EU comparison shows:
Germany regains ground
The wage costs for businesses in Europe are rising – but in no country is the increase
as low as in Germany. According to the German Federal Statistical Office, the
labour costs rose by 1.1% as compared with the 2nd quarter of 2006. A similarly
low increase was registered in no other EU member country. Sweden reported a
rise of 2.3%, followed by Finland and Malta (2.6% each), Austria and Belgium
(2.7% each). In Poland and the Czech Republic the labour costs rose by 11.4% and
7.7% respectively. The highest increases were in Latvia (31.7%) and Romania
(23.4%). With a rise in wage costs of 3.5%, France also exceeded the EU average of
3.3%.
Economic survey
Industrial companies
are optimistic
There continues to be a positive
mood, as almost 90 per cent of businesses
in the area covered by the
Lüneburg-Wolfsburg Chamber of
Industry and Commerce are content
with the current economic climate.
The majority of industrial enterprises
also rate the situation as good. This is
the outcome of the Chamber’s recent
economic survey, according to which
50 per cent of the companies asked
said they were planning to expand
their capacities. The charts show current
expectations in the mechanical
engineering, chemical and business
services sectors.
Chemical industry
Order intakes have improved considerably,
allowing a positive outlook.
Exports are likely to slacken as
compared with the previous year.
59 %
41 %
More information on the economic
climate in the region at:
www.ihk24-lueneburg.de
and navigate to: Standortpolitik/Wirtschaftspolitik
Business services
This sector is for the most part
satisfied, and profits have risen
slightly, but forecasts have been
scaled down.
54 %
Mechanical engineering
Order books continue to be well filled
and the forecasts are optimistic.
Profits followed a positive trend and
some of them will be reinvested.
24 %
20 %
11 %
35 %
56 %
Good Medium Poor
Source: IHK Lüneburg-Wolfsburg