After two years of Corona, there was great hope that the economy in MV would pick up speed again. However, the Russian attack on Ukraine, which has resulted in drastically higher energy prices, is dampening expectations. Economics Minister Meyer sees "light and shadow".
Schwerin (dpa/mv) - The late effects of the pandemic, drastically increased energy prices and the effects of the Russian war against Ukraine also slowed down economic development in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 2022. Economics Minister Reinhard Meyer drew a mixed balance on Tuesday. "There is light and shadow," stated the SPD politician, according to the announcement. Despite the insolvency of the MV shipyards, industry is a stable anchor alongside crafts and the healthcare sector. "Tourism is picking up again," Meyer said. In no other federal state does tourism contribute so much to economic output.
Inflation and especially the increase in the cost of electricity, gas and fuel made life difficult for many companies. Interrupted supply chains, a lack of material and the increasing shortage of skilled workers posed additional challenges. Nevertheless, Meyer expects moderate economic growth for the year that is coming to an end. "The increase in gross domestic product in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania should be within the range of between 1.0 and 1.5 percent forecast by the federal government and the economic research institutes for Germany as a whole," said Meyer. The minister held back when looking ahead to the new year.
In the first half of 2022, the economy in the north-east had grown strongly. According to initial calculations, gross domestic product increased by 5.2 percent in real terms compared to the same period last year. The state thus recorded the second-highest increase after Rhineland-Palatinate (6.4 percent). According to analyzes by the Statistical Office in Schwerin, the growth was primarily based on a recovery in the hospitality industry, which had experienced a dramatic slump at the beginning of 2021 as a result of the corona lockdown. After the Corona shock of 2020, when the gross domestic product in the north-east collapsed by 3.7 percent, there was a plus again in 2021 with 1.7 percent. However, the mood in the economy clouded over again as a result of the Ukraine war.
"Despite the corona pandemic and the energy crisis, investments continue to be made, companies are settling there," Meyer stated. This year, the state approved state grants totaling 46 million euros for 107 commercial projects. As a result, investments of 176 million euros could have been realized, 360 jobs created and 3050 secured. As an example of new settlements, Meyer named the Birkenstock company, which produces shoes in Pasewalk and wants to give work to up to 1,000 people.
Meyer went into detail about the MV shipyards, which filed for bankruptcy at the beginning of the year after the collapse of the cruise market and the payment difficulties of the Asian parent company Genting. "We have found prospects for all three locations in Rostock, Wismar and Stralsund, despite a difficult global market environment in the maritime economy." It is crucial that the employees come back into permanent, good employment.
In the future, the Navy will repair ships at the Rostock site. Wismar was taken over by submarine builder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, and the cruise ship "Global One" lying in dock is being completed after being sold to the US shipping company Disney Cruise Line. In Stralsund, the municipality is developing a maritime business park.
Above all, Meyer hopes to see growth impulses and new jobs as a result of turning to forward-looking technologies. The country is stuck in the industrial structural change. "The excellent conditions that we have here in the country for the generation of renewable energies represent a unique opportunity for the economic development of our country."
The focus is in particular on climate-friendly industries based on renewable energies and hydrogen, explained Meyer. The country not only wants to build up production capacities for green hydrogen, but also use it industrially and thus increase the added value in the country.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is an economic lightweight in a country comparison. With around 50 billion euros annually, the north-east contributes 1.4 percent to Germany's overall economic performance. The per capita output reaches 71 percent of the national average and 86 percent of the weakest western state, Schleswig-Holstein.
