The ambitious idea centres around turning Germany into what Steinmeier called the “Silicon Valley of environmentally-sensitive industrial production,” according to Der Spiegel magazine at the weekend.
“We show how with clever policies Germany can create a total of four million jobs in the next decade,” he said.
Steinmeier’s 67-page “Plan for Germany” sets out how half of these jobs which will be generated by promoting greener industries, as well as energy and raw material saving.
A further million new jobs could be created in the health service, he said, in particular in the care professions – for the chronically sick and the old.
Half a million jobs should be created in what Steinmeier called the “creative industries” and a further half a million in other service industries and trade.
On top of this, Steinmeier promised to found an ‘alliance for mid-sized businesses’ which will bring business, unions and banks around one table in order to shore up the conditions necessary for job creation and fight the effects of the credit crunch. This would also include a state credit mediator which would negotiate between banks and companies needing money.
Steinmeier will launch his plan on Monday evening in a speech in Berlin. The election which will decide whether he manages to oust Chancellor Angela Merkel from her post will be held on September 27.
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