On 28 September 2016 Prime Minister Xavier Bettel took part in the summit for small and medium-sized businesses held in Berlin by the Federal Association of Small and Medium-sized Businesses (Bundesverband mittelständischer Wirtschaft - BVMW). This year's edition was held under the motto "Dare to take up new responsibilities - for Germany and Europe!" On this occasion, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel addressed over 800 invited guests on "Challenges in connection with digitalisation". In his address he went into not only the changes resulting from increasing globalisation and digitalisation but also the potential associated therewith.
"The development of information and communication technologies offers unbelievable possibilities, but it will also have serious consequences for our accustomed economic and social structures" Xavier Bettel stressed, adding "We must therefore now take bold decisions and lay the foundations for the future, but also accept the challenges and ensure that our high standard of living and social harmony are preserved.”
The Prime Minister explained that in the last 10 to 15 years Luxembourg has invested substantial resources in the diversification of its economy and in the development of new branches, in particular in the areas of biotechnology, materials research and Fintech but also in logistics, research and the space industry. Furthermore, Luxembourg has invested very heavily in its digital infrastructure, modernised its legislation and called the initiative "Digital Luxembourg" into being. The country has equipped itself with a global digital strategy in order to simplify digitalisation for undertakings and to make the entire economy, the ministries and the administration fit for the digital future.
Other guest speakers included EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger, the Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for the Economy and Energy, Sigmar Gabriel, together with Reinhard Grindel, the President of the German Football Association, and Liz Mohn, a member of Bertelsmann’s Supervisory Board.
