Danish and German companies can already do more business with one another. They should therefore start exploring the opportunities, even though the opening of the Fehmarn link remains uncertain, according to Andreas Wenzel from the Danish-German Chamber of Commerce.
FemernBusiness has asked him five questions about business opportunities across the Fehmarn Belt.
What are the greatest opportunities for cooperation between Lolland-Falster, South Zealand and northern Germany – on both sides?
- The greatest opportunity lies in creating a more closely integrated market with new customers, business partners and shared value chains.
This opens up new opportunities for cooperation in areas including logistics, manufacturing, tourism and green energy.
What is particularly preventing more companies from seizing these opportunities?
- One challenge is that there is currently considerable uncertainty about when the link will be completed and to what extent it will be ready for use. At present, it appears that the opening will take place in stages.
This naturally particularly affects companies and investments whose business model depends directly on the new transport corridor.
But there are also barriers that a tunnel cannot remove. Different rules, administrative procedures and a lack of knowledge of the market on the other side of the border make it more difficult for companies to cooperate.
What can and should businesses do in practical terms already now?
- Danish-German economic relations are already developing very dynamically, and businesses should not wait for the tunnel to open. They should already be exploring new market opportunities and further developing their existing networks and partnerships on the other side of the border.
Particularly interesting are collaborations in which Danish and German businesses can complement each other’s expertise and develop joint value chains.
What are you doing yourselves to bring Danish and German businesses closer together?
- As a professional service provider and adviser with a strong Danish-German team, we help Danish and German businesses find partners, establish themselves in the other market and navigate different regulatory conditions.
Through our events and networking activities, we create concrete meeting places for Danish and German businesses.
What is needed if our region is to gain lasting jobs and investment from the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link?
- A tunnel does not automatically create growth. It requires a targeted effort from municipalities, businesses and business development organisations.
There must be attractive commercial sites, access to qualified labour and favourable conditions for investment. At the same time, the region must develop a clear strategy for the companies and industries it wishes to attract and further develop.
And, not least, the entire transport corridor must be completed as soon as possible, so that companies can plan with certainty.
All responses in the article were submitted in writing and edited by FemernBusiness.
