"Chemical industry all over the world gains important impulses from Saxony-Anhalt"
Companies and scientific organisations from Saxony-Anhalt are going to Frankfurt, where 4,000 exhibitors from 50 countries are set to meet, full of confidence. Participants number 180,000 and come from around 100 different countries. And the exhibitors from central Germany not only have high quality products to offer, they can also report a number of success stories. “Saxony-Anhalt is a land of innovations, one example of which is the model for chemicals parks that we have developed. This not only once more gave the local chemical industry a brand new perspective after the fall of the Berlin Wall, it has also stumbled upon admirers and imitators all over the world. We can therefore proudly say that impulses for the continued development of the chemical industry have been sent all over the world from Saxony-Anhalt.” Such were the words of the Premier Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the foundation of the Central European Chemical Network (CeChemNet) that was celebrated at the beginning of June in Bitterfeld-Wolfen. Members of this chemicals park network in Saxony-Anhalt include the P-D ChemiePark Bitterfeld Wolfen in addition to its additional local occupant firms in Leuna (InfraLeuna GmbH), Schkopau/Böhlen (Value Park® Dow Olefinverbund GmbH), Zeitz (Infra-Zeitz Servicegesellschaft mbH) and BASF Schwarzheide GmbH in the state of Brandenburg. The partnership is completed with the cooperation of the Nordostchemie association (North East Germany Chemicals Association) and the isw Gesellschaft für wissenschaftliche Beratung und Dienstleistung mbH (isw society for scientific consultations and services) in Halle.
At ACHEMA, current spokesman of the CeChemNet, Matthias Gabriel, Managing Director of the P-D ChemiePark Bitterfeld Wolfen GmbH, will present the network as an association of chemicals companies and local occupant firms which concentrate expertise and know-how in the area of chemicals park management. In addition to this, the network also coordinates the exchange between the worlds of business, science and politics. It supports the marketing of space in chemicals parks with business promotion agencies at the state and federal levels.
The strengths of the network, which is now ten years old, include shared trade fair appearances. In this context, during the ACHEMA, the central German chemicals parks will be touting for investors for the third time together with the Investment and Marketing Corporation Saxony-Anhalt. On the shared trade fair stand, Mr. Gabriel will present the CeChemNet association to the national and international visitors. A Japanese delegation has already confirmed it will be attending. Prior to the start of the ACHEMA, Mr. Gabriel announced that he intends to describe the confident and constructive collaboration that the chemicals park has achieved without sacrificing its independence as being a unique and successful form of cooperation.
The basic idea of the chemicals park that was developed in Saxony-Anhalt is now seen as being a stroke of genius that was originated from a case of emergency. It was for the chemicals park operators to provide all companies with an attractive economic basis at their locations. In addition to fully serviced space, this also includes an infrastructure which is aligned keenly towards chemicals production. In addition to this, the investors are also provided with a comprehensive service offering. This includes professional services in the area of relocation management and dealing effectively with local authorities. All of the necessary auxiliary processes are provided by professional third parties. These services include the supply of steam, water and energy, systems planning and analysis, fire and property protection, waste disposal services, local logistics and public relations.
This concept has turned out to be a magnet for investors, explained Premier Minister Haseloff in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, who prior to becoming Premier Minister, in his then role of Minister of Science and Economic Affairs, was himself President of the Network of European Chemicals Regions, the ECRN. And this has also been the case because Saxony-Anhalt boasts the most modern chemicals systems and plants, highlighted the politician. The strong political engagement that the state of Saxony-Anhalt has demonstrated for the entire chemical industry in eastern Germany was praised during the anniversary event by all sides.
Since the mid-1990s, Haseloff explains that over 600 companies have now settled at the six chemicals parks locations, with nearly 17 billion Euros having been invested and over 30,000 jobs having been created. The chemicals parks cover nearly 5,500 hectares of land, whereby the investments in the chemical industry in Saxony-Anhalt focus primarily on the chemicals parks. According to the figures of the State Ministry of Economic Affairs, from 1991 until the end of 2011, a total of 404 investment projects received assistance with a volume of approximately 1.2 billion Euros.
Haseloff described chemicals as being a decisive mainstay to the German economy, highlighting how it is necessary to work on concepts and strategies all the time to ensure eastern Germany remains an industrial region. In the face of increasing energy prices, he also spoke out in favour of giving preferential treatment to companies that rely on a high use of energy.
On the occasion of the ACHEMA, it is also possible to report that investment activities are continuing. At the Leuna location alone, according to company figures, investments totalling approximately 300 million Euros are either planned or already underway. At the Zeitz chemical and industrial park an investment of up to 50 million Euros by American chemicals firm Puralube has just been announced. At the Bitterfeld-Wolfen chemicals park, investments running into the hundreds of millions are set to be initiated by German and international companies.
Therefore, central German chemicals parks are making a strong contribution to the growth of the entire chemical industry in eastern Germany. According to the figures of the Eastern Germany State Association for the Chemical Industry (VCI), in 2011, the number of employees employed in the chemicals sector in eastern Germany increased by 11.5 per cent. Nationally the figure was just 3.3 per cent. During the same period, turnover in the eastern German chemical industry went up by 11.8 per cent and nationally by 7.7 per cent.