A particular focus was on the intensive exchange between business and politics. With Prof. Dr. Andrea Wechsler, Member of the European Parliament, Fabian Gramling, Member of the German Bundestag, and Steffen Bilger, Parliamentary Director of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, key concerns from the district were addressed directly to decision-makers at European and national level.
Urgent need for action: reducing bureaucracy and creating living space
One of the most urgent concerns of the business community was the reduction of bureaucracy: several participants from companies and chambers of commerce impressively described the extent to which over-regulated procedures slow down investment, innovation and construction projects. Another focus was on the question of how more affordable living space can be created in the district. In particular, the importance of state subsidies, deregulation of construction and accelerated planning were discussed. District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier emphasized in his moderation of the dialogue: "Many of the conditions that we offer our companies here locally are decided in Brussels and Berlin. It is therefore important to me to focus on politics as well as our municipal strategy for the future."
In the further course of the meeting, the members of the Sounding Board were presented with and discussed the flagship projects of the future strategy, building on the strategy process to date. The participants, including high-ranking representatives from companies such as Dürr, Porsche, Bosch, Mann+Hummel, Wüstenrot, Marabu as well as the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the district craftsmen's association and the Stuttgart Region Economic Development Corporation, discussed the district's strategic future fields and provided valuable feedback on concrete implementation.
Broad participation in the strategy process: over 250 stakeholders pull together
The district's strategy process was launched in the fall of 2024. Since then, more than 250 stakeholders - cities and municipalities, companies, institutions, associations and chambers - have been involved in its creation. The needs of the companies were collected and analyzed in an online survey and a company workshop in the spring. Methodological support was provided by Dr. Gerd Meier zu Köcker, Head of Regional
Transformation Processes and Economic Development at VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH, together with the district's economic development department. In the five prioritized fields of action, 20 projects and measures have now been defined with which the district of Ludwigsburg aims to make the business location fit for the future and provide companies with greater support. The measures range from a more consistent external presentation of the district's economic strengths and support for the influx of international skilled workers to greater digitalization of administrative services for companies and consideration of the establishment of an international school in the district of Ludwigsburg. The suggestions made by the company representatives on the Sounding Board will now be incorporated into the final draft of the future strategy. The future strategy will be presented to the district council's environment and technology committee in the fall.
