SCHOLZ: GERMANY NEEDS TO BECOME 'FASTER AND SIMPLER'

HANOVER, Germany, April 22 (Bernama-dpa) -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that the Hannover Messe - one of the world's largest trade fairs - will provide new impetus for the energy transition and strengthen the competitiveness of German industry, reported dpa news. 

"What our country will live on in the future is what can be seen here at this trade fair: That we develop new things, that we continuously improve products, that we research and apply pioneering technologies," Scholz said on Sunday evening at the opening of the world's largest exhibition for mechanical and electrical engineering.

With its focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and solutions for the transition to green energy, the industrial show is setting important priorities, said Scholz. 

After all, affordable energy and more innovation are the key prerequisites for boosting productivity and growth, he added, which requires intelligent AI solutions such as those on show at the trade fair: "Machines that take over simple tasks so that employees can switch to higher-skilled jobs." 

The German economy has recently been criticised for high energy prices and too much bureaucracy. From the industry's point of view, this jeopardises the attractiveness of the location, especially in comparison to other regions such as the United States. 

Scholz stressed: "Of course, a modern supply policy also means that we need to become faster and simpler. We are in complete agreement on this." Scholz said that the federal government has already set an important course in this direction.

-- BERNAMA-dpa