The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry wants to draw attention to the contribution of people with a migration background to German prosperity with a new campaign. There is also a temporarily changed logo.
The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) will temporarily change its logo starting next week and wants to send a signal against right-wing extremism. “Exclusion and hatred not only endanger our coexistence in a free, democratic basic order, but also our prosperity,” explained DIHK President Peter Adrian in Berlin.
People with a migrant background are “an integral part of our society and our workforce. We do not want to and cannot do without them in our companies.”
The DIHK logo will therefore be reduced in size by 27 percent and the phrase “27 percent of us” will be added – this is the proportion of people with a migration history among all employed people in Germany. Adrian explained that more than twelve million people with a migrant background now contribute to Germany’s prosperity. Only together with them can the German economy “reach 100 percent performance”. Overall, the campaign runs under the title “27 percent of us – #KeineWirtschaftOhneWir”.
Especially many self-employed people
The association particularly emphasizes the achievements of the self-employed. Of the more than twelve million people with a migrant background in Germany, almost a million work independently. “The proportion of people with a history of immigration is particularly noticeable when it comes to starting up companies. In the past ten years, the start-up rate among migrants was around ten percent, almost twice as high as among people without a migration background (almost six percent),” says the DIHK.
“Companies run or founded by people with an immigrant background are such an important part of our economy,” said Adrian.
Logo should be changed for at least six weeks
Adrian called on companies and business associations to take part in the campaign and also trim their own logos. The DIHK offers a corresponding tool on its website.
In addition to sending a clear signal against extremism, politics, business and civil society must also address the causes of frustration and uncertainty, according to the DIHK. “We need concrete solutions so that regions, industries and people don’t feel left behind or even really are,” warned Adrian. The campaign starts next Monday and is expected to run for at least six weeks.