IHK Aachen: Strong impulses for the economy and the city centers!

IHK Aachen: Strong impulses for the economy and the city centers!

On June 10, 2025, the general assembly of the IHK Aachen passed important resolutions that affect the economic direction of the region. President Gisela Kohl-Vogel discussed the ongoing economic policy developments at the federal level, in particular the federal government's new immediate investment program, which is accompanied by tax relief totaling 46 billion euros by 2029. The IHK Aachen sees this initiative as a first step towards strengthening Germany's competitiveness. In the future, the IHK would like to increasingly advocate for more business friendliness in the next four years in order to promote regional companies.

A parliamentary evening with members of the Bundestag from the IHK district is scheduled to take place in Berlin in November, which could strengthen the dialogue between the regional economy and politics. Nevertheless, the IHK Aachen will leave the Rhineland metropolitan region at the end of 2025 because representatives of the regional economy do not see any concrete added value for the IHK districts of Aachen, Düren, Euskirchen and Heinsberg. IHK general manager Michael F. Bayer said that the association's results did not meet expectations.

Strengthening inner cities

Another central topic of the general assembly was the adoption of a position paper on a resilient city center. The regional economy demands a fundamental change in the development of city centers. Living, working, leisure, culture and gastronomy should be more closely linked. Hybrid retail formats and flexible temporary uses are viewed as central elements in increasing the attractiveness of city centers.

Peter Heinrichs, chairman of the IHK trade committee, advocates a “culture of enablement” for start-ups in inner cities. He emphasizes that faster administrative processes and less bureaucracy are necessary to promote growth. The networking between politics, administration, property owners and companies should be improved, with Heinrichs emphasizing the importance of communication for effective and quick decisions. The goal is a livable, safe and accessible city center.

Economic reforms at the federal level

With regard to federal political developments, DIHK General Manager Helena Melnikov commented on the tax reform proposal. This reform provides for faster depreciation, a reduction in corporate tax and a gradual reduction in the income tax rate on undistributed profits. These measures are intended to create incentives for private companies in Germany to invest more and secure jobs. Melnikov emphasizes that the DIHK has advocated for these changes on behalf of the economy.

However, she warns that this legislation alone will not quickly improve the economic situation and calls for additional measures, including simplified tax collection and the digitalization of processes. It also proposes suspending the global minimum taxation until international agreements are reached. These steps are intended to send a positive signal to companies and strengthen trust in politics in order to revive economic dynamism in Germany.

The position paper on the resilient city center of the IHK Aachen is available free of charge on the IHK website available. At the same time, the discussion about tax measures and investments at the federal level remains of great relevance for future economic development in Germany, as well DIHK emphasized.