Both Danish business and ministers have used the metaphor beyond recognition. In Denmark, companies are met by red tape - bureaucracy - while in other places in the world they are met by a red carpet. Now the time has come to roll out the carpet in Denmark.
This will be done by establishing five industrial parks, where areas will be set aside to set up new production. A one-stop shop will also be established. This will give companies a single entry point to obtain permits from the authorities.
This is evident from the proposal "Red carpet for production companies", which the government presented on Friday at a press conference in a hall filled with straw bales in Kalundborg at the company Meliora Bio, which produces bioethanol. Among the representatives of the SVM government was Minister of Industry and Trade Morten Bødskov (S):
- We have examples of companies that - because the slowness is too great - choose not to invest in Europe and Denmark. It costs jobs, and it is not possible. It's about processing time, about companies being able to put their spades in the ground more quickly, the minister said of the proposal.
Sufficient workforce is a challenge
The measures to strengthen Production Denmark are linked to the government's proposal for rural areas. In the Jutland municipality of Vejen, where many people live in rural areas, there is enthusiasm for the government's plans among mayor Frank Schmidt-Hansen (K).
- I would almost say that Vejen is listed on one of the five industrial parks. We are working with two energy parks, and it would be a great fit to have industry linked to it. For us, it is important that we get some lasting green jobs, so that we not only have to allocate space for the green transition and the inconvenience it causes for our citizens, but that there are also jobs in it in the long term.
At the other end of the country on Lolland, Mayor Holger Schou Rasmussen (S) also praises the project. Over the past few decades, the island has experienced extensive depopulation, and today a large part of the population is reaching retirement age. With more jobs, more life will be able to return to Lolland, says the mayor.
- All the jobs related to building the Fehmarnbelt link are already underway. It will be a link between Denmark and Germany, and there is also a large port. So it is quite obvious that Lolland will become a setting for more industry.
If it is to succeed, it must also be possible to attract labor. Here, the Lolland mayor points out that foreign labor will be necessary.
The shortage of labor has been called the biggest challenge by the business community on several occasions. That is still the case, says Brian Mikkelsen, director of the business organization Danish Business.
- But I am still happy about this proposal, because it addresses one of our other major challenges, which is difficulties with authorities. It is a major barrier to attracting more investment to Denmark, he says.
Faster case processing for green projects
In the proposal, the government suggests that the faster case processing will strengthen production within the green transition. But other industries will also be able to benefit from the one-stop shop. However, Brian Mikkelsen is not worried that it could lead to increased CO2 emissions, when the government dreams of more industry in Denmark.
- We don't have a lot of fossil fuel companies in Denmark. We have innovative companies, and everyone will still have to comply with climate and environmental regulations, he says.
The new proposal will be financed within the framework of the government's previous proposal for rural areas and the upcoming life science strategy. A total of DKK 102.4 million will be allocated from this year to 2027.
/ritzau/
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