Weaknesses in the infrastructure jeopardize Germany's economic position

What we at Xpert have been warning about for years: The state of Germany's key infrastructure is paralyzing the business of many companies. This is the result of a survey conducted by the German Economic Institute (IW) among more than 1,000 companies in Germany. According to the survey, closed highways, congested ports, and unreliable rail freight services are noticeably impacting business operations.

Approximately 27 percent of the surveyed companies reported that their operations were significantly impacted. This is about eleven percentage points higher than at the last survey date in 2018. A further 52 percent of participating companies reported minor impacts. The proportion of businesses not affected by poor infrastructure has fallen from 41 percent in 2013 to just 21 percent.

Larger companies, which use the transport network significantly more often, are generally particularly affected. According to the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW Köln), the most severe disruptions continue to be caused by inadequate road networks. These problems have accumulated over many years due to underfunding. However, the most significant changes compared to 2018 are evident in energy supply and shipping.

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• SSP – Structure Service Provider

Today's global economy is based on a number of key industries that are crucial for the functioning of our society. These include, among others, the automotive industry, the aerospace industry, the shipbuilding industry, and information and communication technologies (ICT).

These industries are crucial to our economies, providing a wide range of products and services without which our daily lives would no longer function. They also contribute significantly to our export-oriented economic output.

More about it here:

• Lessons learned from the crisis: Logistics as a key factor
• Europe in transition: The future of logistics centers

Our key industries need a strong infrastructure to ensure their competitiveness.

Many regions of the country lack adequate transport infrastructure. Road networks are often outdated and congested, leading to traffic jams and long travel times. Airports and ports are also frequently overloaded, hindering the country's economic growth. This situation must finally change!

How we secure the infrastructure of our key industries will be crucial for the future! We must improve our transport routes and create new transport options so that our businesses can operate more efficiently. At the same time, we must strive to make our ports and airports fit for the future and ensure that these locations continue to serve as ideal starting points for trade and development.

One of the most important factors for the future viability of an economy is the security of its key industries. These industries are the backbone of the economy and form the basis of a country's prosperity. Without them, the country would fall into a deep recession.

However, in recent years we have repeatedly seen how vulnerable these industries are to disruptions and attacks. In Germany, the BER airport is an example of how expensive and difficult it can be to operate a key industry.

Cybersecurity is also a major problem. Data leaks at banks and other companies occur repeatedly, and these can have serious consequences. These security gaps must be closed urgently so that our key industries can continue to function.

But how can we secure the infrastructure of our key industries? That's a question we should all be asking ourselves. Here are some ideas:

1) Invest in the security of your company's IT: One of the biggest problems of our time is the lack of security in company IT systems. Many companies don't invest enough in the security of their IT systems and are therefore vulnerable to hacker attacks or data theft. Invest in a good firewall and security software and keep your systems up to date.

2) Train your employees in cybersecurity: Another major problem is the misconduct of employees who lack sufficient cybersecurity knowledge. Often, simply opening an unsecured email or sharing a password with strangers is enough to put the entire company at risk. Therefore, train your employees regularly in cybersecurity and ensure that all employees are informed about the latest security measures.

3) Seek external help: If you don't have enough resources to ensure the security of your infrastructure yourself, seek help from external service providers. These providers have the necessary expertise and experience to help you secure your infrastructure. They can also regularly perform monitoring tasks, ensuring that your infrastructure remains secure in the future.