Industry crisis: "Chemical Summit East" in Böhlen

Employers' associations and trade unions want to discuss the crisis in the industry at a "Chemical Summit East Germany" on Monday (10.00 am) in Böhlen near Leipzig. Demands will also be presented to the federal government in order to preserve the chemical sites and secure jobs in the industry. The demands include strengthening value chains, a competitive energy supply, a pragmatic climate policy and a systematic reduction in bureaucracy.

According to the trade union, the Ministers of Economic Affairs of Brandenburg, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt are expected to attend the meeting. The demands to the federal government are to be presented to Elisabeth Kaiser, Commissioner for Eastern Germany.

According to the IG BCE trade union, around 63,000 people work in the chemical-pharmaceutical industry in eastern Germany. However, only 70 percent of capacity is being utilized. Among other things, the US company Dow Chemical announced a few months ago that some of its plants in Schkopau (Saxony-Anhalt) and Böhlen (Saxony) are to be closed at the end of 2027.