"Germany needs open borders, a welcoming culture for foreign skilled workers and a firm anchoring in Europe and the eurozone," reads the statement by the VDMA Executive Committee consisting of Karl Haeusgen, Henrik Schunk and Bertram Kawlath and the VDMA Executive Board with its members Thilo Brodtmann, Hartmut Rauen and Dr. Ralph Wiechers. You can read the statement in full here:

The VDMA Executive Committee (from left): Karl Haeusgen (VDMA President), Bertram Kawlath and Henrik Schunk (Vice Presidents)

© VDMA

"Germany as a business and industrial location depends above all on the trust of investors from Germany and abroad in the social market economy and its democratic economic policy foundations. A country as strong in exports as Germany needs open borders, a welcoming culture for foreign skilled workers and a firm anchoring in Europe and the eurozone.

The nationalist ideas of the AfD and other extremist parties, on the other hand, would soon ruin Germany as a business location, especially with regard to their economic policy. Anyone calling for a 'dexit', i.e. Germany's exit from the EU, has not understood that no European country can survive alone in the economic power struggle between the continents. Those who want to deport foreign skilled workers have not understood that the slogan 'Germany to the Germans' only causes serious damage to one location - our country. Even today, urgently needed skilled workers from other countries prefer to take their knowledge elsewhere because they do not feel welcome. We cannot afford this in the global race for bright minds. And the exit from the euro proposed by the AfD would cause serious damage to Germany and Europe's economy.

Business and advocates of a democratic, market-based society must therefore take a clear stance against such anti-prosperity ideas. AfD and similar parties are a major location risk for Germany, its companies and the people who work here!"