3/15/2010 (News) Social commitment makes a difference Since 2005, the chocolate and cocoa industry has spent US$ 75 million tin improving the conditions for cocoa bean growers in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. But the world doesn’t change overnight.
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3/15/2010 (News) Deficient German language skills are a great loss for Denmark Four out of ten companies experience problems with their communication with international business partners due to a lack of language skills. Particularly the lack of proficiency in German is a problem since eight out of ten Danish companies have activities in Germany.
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3/15/2010 (News) Energy taxes under scrutiny New energy taxes that were partially launched in 2010 and will be fully implemented in 2013 are directly harmful for Danish enterprises. However, Tax Minister Troels Lund Poulsen has now announced he wants to accommodate the business community by advancing a study of the effect of energy taxes on the competitiveness of Danish businesses.
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3/15/2010 (News) OECD shows the way to growth The road to growth and increased welfare goes through lower income tax and corporate tax and not through higher taxes, according to the economists in OECD’s annual growth report. DI welcomes this message.
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3/9/2010 (News) China is the hub of global, economic growth While the rest of the world is in the slow lane of the recession, China has taken the fast lane with high growth rates, offering major opportunities for Danish businesses. DI is organising a seminar that precisely focuses on the rapid Chinese evolution.
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3/4/2010 (News) More EU funding for Danish research For the first time in decades, the Danish share of funds from the EU research programme has increased. Companies can pick up other benefits than just money, including an extended network and thus access to new markets.
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3/4/2010 (News) C2C: No company has closed the circuit The vision of the production concept Cradle to Cradle is that everything must be recycled. But so far no companies have been able to recycle everything, and there is a long way to go before the vision has been fulfilled, according to a new university thesis.
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3/4/2010 (News) High tariff barriers block exports Tariff barriers in areas like Asia are blocking the export opportunities of Danish businesses. The solution is to be found in more bilateral trade agreements here and now - and an ambitious, broader agreement under the WTO.
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3/4/2010 (News) Better knowledge to ensure growth The Government Bill suggests that Danes must be smarter than others if we are to generate growth. According to DI, it is vital to add focus to the quality of the educational system.
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3/4/2010 (News) Danish economy at a snail’s pace The year 2009 marked a historical downturn, but according to new statistics the economy is moving forward again at a snail’s pace.
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3/4/2010 (News) DI supports more business-oriented universities Improved cooperation between universities and industry means more competitive companies. This is why DI welcomes six proposals for more business-oriented universities that have been presented by the two government coalition parties, the Liberals and the Conservatives.
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3/4/2010 (News) Modular road trains without accidents Opponents of modular road trains feared they would reduce traffic safety. But one year after the start of the trial no modular road trains have been involved in accidents.
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3/4/2010 (News) Commercial firms prepare for a tough 2010 The commercial sector does not expect any improvement in the economy or business before 2011, and this means more layoffs in the pipeline, according to the Danish Commercial Industries Federation (DI Handel).
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3/4/2010 (News) More black oil gives green growth DI supports the idea of extracting more black oil from the North Sea. The idea is to create economic latitude to speed up the transition to green sustainable energy to take over once oil finally runs dry.
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3/4/2010 (News) Private sector growth to ensure welfare in 2020 The government’s programme contains several important approaches aimed at solving Denmark’s vital growth challenge.
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3/2/2010 (News) Indonesia could be the next large growth market for exporters Indonesia is waiting in the wings to become the next major export market after the four BRIC countries. This is a major challenge for Danish exporters as Indonesia is the country in the free world where Denmark’s presence is poorest, lagging far behind countries such as Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
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3/2/2010 (News) Foreign pressure on corporate tax A significantly lower corporate tax rate in our neighbouring countries would have negative consequences for Denmark, according to a majority of companies in DI’s company panel.
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3/2/2010 (News) DI: Support to growth in the developing world is positive DI fully supports the government’s new strategy for development aid and its greatly increased focus on growth and business development.
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3/1/2010 (News) China could become third largest export market China’s vast potential keeps growing, and this could make the country one of Denmark’s most important export markets in a few decades. But such a development requires the right framework conditions and reforms.
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3/1/2010 (News) Four year setback for corporate business Although business for Danish companies has begun to stabilise, there is still a long way back to the level of the first half of 2008. For the first time, DI has shown an overall picture of the development in the various sectors since the crisis started at the end of 2008.
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2/22/2010 (News) Renewal of agreements in the industrial field CO-industri and DI reached Monday night an agreement on a renewal of the collective agreements for the industrial sector. The new agreement was concluded after a difficult negotiating process which began on 6 January.
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2/22/2010 (News) Difficult to observe CSR requirements in public procurements Many companies are met with ethical requirements when they respond to invitations to tender. But it may be nearly impossible for a company to meet CSR requirements on subcontractors.
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2/22/2010 (News) Danish position of strength eroded through new energy taxes New energy taxes from 2010 will be a serious burden on Danish businesses. Companies with more efficient energy consumption than their foreign competitors will particularly be at a disadvantage.
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2/22/2010 (News) Studies abroad increase job opportunities Studying at a foreign university is increasingly attractive to Danish students. And according to DI their interest is a very good idea as it increases the chances of a good job after graduation.
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2/22/2010 (News) Denmark misses out on billions worth of export income Danish companies would have a major export if they would increasingly exploit opportunities in countries such as Belgium, Holland, Austria, France and Switzerland, according to an analysis in DI Insight.
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2/22/2010 (News) Lower taxes to attract highly qualified workers Numerous Danish companies already feel the positive effects of the tax reform. The lower marginal tax makes it easier to attract highly qualified workers. But Denmark is still lagging behind countries such as our neighbours when it comes to offering attractive taxes on incomes.
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2/8/2010 (News) Denmark tumbles down the wealth ladder In ten years both Taiwan and South Korea may be wealthier than Denmark, according to a new study. Denmark is tumbling down the list of the richest countries in the world.
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2/8/2010 (News) New increase in unemployment The latest unemployment statistics from December 2009 confirm the difficult situation of many Danish businesses.
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2/8/2010 (News) Goodwill as business Businesses can learn from social companies that do not operate their business for the sake of profit.
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2/8/2010 (News) Sensible to protect against bio-terrorism A number of companies are stocking biological substances or different forms of equipment and apparatus that – if the worst comes to the worst – could be misused by terrorists to make biological weapons. New rules require the companies to have permission in future. DI finds the rules sensible.
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2/8/2010 (News) More women managers bring companies in forefront The number of women business managers is on the increase, according to a DI study of gender distribution in management.
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2/1/2010 (News) Major local welfare gains through increased outsourcing Local authorities may make major gains if they dare break with their habitual thinking and allow private enterprises to help them solve various municipal tasks. The potential for cooperation is particularly great in the social sector, according to DI.
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2/1/2010 (News) Eclipse of solar energy A new draft bill on electricity taxation is bound to deter home owners from installing solar panels on their roof.
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2/1/2010 (News) CSR is also sound business Under new rules, the 1,100 largest Danish companies must describe their work with Corporate Social Responsibility in their annual reports. For many of them it is a question of getting a clear view of current activities in the area.
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2/1/2010 (News) EU has potential for more The target of the Lisbon strategy in 2000 was to make the European Union the world’s most competitive economy by 2010. This target has not been met, so the Union is now launching its EU2020 strategy.
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2/1/2010 (News) Political dilly-dallying prevents reorganisation of car taxes The Danish registration tax is long past expiry date. The taxation of Danish motor vehicle owners favours outdated engines that are harmful to the environment. Instead, DI proposes an annual CO2 tax graduated in relation to the car’s CO2 emission.
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1/27/2010 (News) Exports travel longer during recession On average, Danish products travel 150km longer than before the financial crisis. The decline in the usual markets makes producers look further away for markets to sell their products.
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1/27/2010 (News) Health sector charges ahead in Mideast A business campaign is afoot to help the Danish health industry join the growth in the health sector in the Middle East. DI predicts major potential for the Danish health industry.
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1/27/2010 (News) Design benefits Denmark More companies could benefit from including design in the development of new products. The reason is major demand for upmarket products, particularly on the export markets.
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1/27/2010 (News) Climate opportunities for SMEs The global market for energy and climate friendly products and solutions can grow to DKK 184 trillion by 2030. Danish companies have good prerequisites for exploiting this market.
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1/27/2010 (News) More professionals prefer the provinces While the larger urban areas and Copenhagen used to be magnets for university graduates from around the country, developments have taken a different turn. The professionals now increasingly stay in the provinces, and this helps to create more jobs, according to DI.
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1/18/2010 (News) Major potential for SMEs in growth markets In future, a great part of world economic growth will be found in the Asian and South American markets. They represent a great potential for Danish small and medium-sized enterprises since these currently trade significantly less with the new growth markets than large Danish companies.
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1/18/2010 (News) Light at the end of the tunnel for SMEs Small and medium-sized enterprises in Denmark have less negative expectations to employment in the first quarter of 2010 than larger companies. A majority, however, still expect a negative employment development, according to a new survey from DI.
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1/18/2010 (News) Protectionism in new clothes Buy Chinese, buy American, don’t buy foreign! As part of the recession the ghost of the protectionism of yore is popping up again.
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1/18/2010 (News) Innovation check to SME New smart solutions and products often need help to break through, and DI is now proposing that small and medium-sized companies can get an “innovation check”.
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1/18/2010 (News) E-mail fraudsters go for Danish companies Foreign fraudsters are trying to cheat Danish businesses by placing false orders.
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1/11/2010 (News) Talks started for new collective agreements The Central Organisation of Industrial Employees in Denmark (CO-industri) and DI have opened negotiations aimed at renewing the collective agreements in the industrial sector. The goal is to reach an agreement that contributes to restore the competitiveness of Danish businesses.
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1/11/2010 (News) Unemployment expected to move east Western and southern Jutland are badly affected by unemployment, but DI’s Company Panel from December shows that companies in Zealand, in particular, expect to have fewer employees in the 1st quarter of 2010.
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1/11/2010 (News) Many companies still have trouble with financing About half of companies are still finding financing difficult, according to a new DI survey.
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1/11/2010 (News) Dubious advance in the new employments of export companies Recent reports that show that companies are now ready to hire people should be taken with a grain of salt, according to DI. Overall, the picture rather shows declining employment; and DI does not yet spot the contours of any major progress in employment.
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1/11/2010 (News) First step towards EU free trade agreement with Singapore Denmark annually exports goods and services worth DKK 9 billion to Singapore, and the city state thus buys more Danish products than BRIC countries such as India and Brazil. Shortly before Christmas the EU and Singapore decided to open negotiations for a free trade agreement.
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1/7/2010 (News) EU: Time for talk is over DI-publication sets focus on policy initiatives that the EU must launch in order to achieve optimal conditions for business under the title: Restart Europe - The time for talk is over.
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12/22/2009 (News) Christmas 2009 will be less expensive Danish consumers can save money this Christmas compared with last year, particularly when it comes to the most sought-after items. Prices have decreased on food, electronic articles, books, games and men’s wear.
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12/22/2009 (News) Export insurance beginning to run smoothly again It appears that many healthy international business deals that would otherwise have been in trouble are now being implemented. Danish exports are insured for billions of kroner, and DI is pleased that the reinsurance programme is working as intended.
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12/22/2009 (News) Unemployment has hardly peaked yet Although both economists and unions welcome the stagnation of unemployment among unskilled workers in the past three months, DI still believes it is too early to celebrate. According to DI’s prognoses, unemployment will generally grow most of next year.
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12/22/2009 (News) Companies focus on alternatives to lay-offs Danish companies have negative expectations for employment in Q1 2010. Compared with the previous quarters, however, slightly fewer companies expect to lay off workers. Instead they have increased their focus on reducing costs in other ways.
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12/15/2009 (News) Signing of Co-operation agreement between CNI (Brazil) and DI (Denmark) Tuesday at 14.00 hours, the National Confederation of Industry of Brazil and the Confederation of Danish Industry will sign a co-operation agreement. The event will take place at the COP15 meeting, Bella Center, exhibition hall of Climate Consortium Denmark. All are welcome.
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12/15/2009 (News) Connection to Southeast African Business DI has created a webpage through which Danish companies can get access to a network of more than 10,000 African companies.
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12/10/2009 (News) Cheaper now than to wait Although COWI A/S knows that it is hard to sell consulting services at exhibitions, the company is naturally represented at the Bright Green exhibition. The company’s stand wanted to demonstrate that it is cheaper to do something now about the climate challenge, than to wait.
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12/10/2009 (News) Companies intensify climate focus Danish companies are increasingly modifying their production and products to make them more climate-friendly, according to a new survey - a development that will continue according to a professor.
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12/10/2009 (News) More motorway extensions needed Four of the Denmark's busiest motorways will now be getting extra lanes to alleviate rush hour congestion. A large majority in Parliament has agreed on an allocation of DKK 5 billion that includes funding for the extension of busy motorway sections. DI welcomes the agreement but calls for more extensions.
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12/10/2009 (News) Consumers want to spend money again The Danes have begun to spend again, according to new figures from Statistics Denmark. DI’s consumer indicator also predicts weak growth in private consumption in the fourth quarter of 2009.
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12/10/2009 (News) Oil revenue does not cancel need of reforms Higher oil prices provide more revenue for the Treasury – in the short run. But they do not close the gap in the government’s economic 2015 Plan. This would require lasting reforms aimed at improving the public finances.
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12/8/2009 (News) Focus on climate solutions Prior to COP15 and DI’s activities in connection with the climate conference in Copenhagen, we have made a special edition of our members’ weekly – DI Business.
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12/7/2009 (News) Tough competition on green technologies Denmark has export advantages in the climate area. But the competition is intensifying from countries like China, says Climate Commission chairman Katherine Richardson. She also wants to see moral responsibility from all.
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12/7/2009 (News) The Danish model is Bright Green Denmark is among the most energy efficient countries in the world. Danish companies can supply the growing world demand with goods produced with less energy than is seen in the rest of the world.
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12/7/2009 (News) Growth and CO2 reduction go hand in hand The market for green technologies will grow strongly up to 2020, and Europe is among the frontrunners, says Sweden’s Minister for Trade Ewa Björling, who also chairs the EU Competitiveness Council.
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12/7/2009 (News) Business community convenes on climate problems The business community plays a key role in solving climate problems. Business organisations from about 20 countries will gather in Copenhagen to discuss climate problems concurrently with COP15.
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12/7/2009 (News) ”We’re only just scratching the surface of what’s possible” The term Bright Green was originally coined by Alex Steffen, author and creator of the website ”Worldchanging”. According to Steffen, economic growth and rapid advances in sustainability aren’t opposed to each other. In fact, they can be synergistic.
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12/7/2009 (News) Experience Danish Technology – Live Both during and after the UN Climate Change Conference, the multitude of international guests gathered in Denmark will have the opportunity to see real life examples of applied energy technology that can help achieve the political goals under discussion in Copenhagen.
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12/7/2009 (News) See, hear and experience At Bright Green leading research scientists, politicians and more than 150 companies will present their ideas on to how to tackle the climate challenge.
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12/7/2009 (News) We already have the solutions There is no need to wait for the technological revolution that will provide the remedies to climate problems. It is already here, and it is bright and green.
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12/1/2009 (News) Exports double significance for Danish wealth Exports are the largest growth engine for the Danish economy, and the sectors which have a major share of the exports are the most productive industries. Danish wealth is increasingly dependent on exports.
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12/1/2009 (News) Danish commissioner for the benefit of climate and growth The president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, has introduced his new commissioners. With strong Danish representation the new team will be good for the climate, and provide an opportunity to create growth!
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12/1/2009 (News) Youth unemployment still low Although unemployment is on the increase, Denmark does not yet have a definite youth unemployment problem.
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12/1/2009 (News) Decreasing investment followed by focus on new markets Businesses are expected to reduce their investments in 2009 and 2010, but at the same time many are actively seeking to cultivate new markets.
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11/24/2009 (News) More CO2-free energy DONG Energy is facing the challenge that our future society will have significantly greater energy needs while at the same time facing requirements for reductions in CO2 emissions. The utility is currently working to considerably reduce CO2 emissions in several focus areas.
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11/24/2009 (News) When wealth is reeling Danish productivity isn’t up to standard. We invest too little, we do not encourage education enough, and we are not creative enough. These were the discouraging findings of a survey by the Danish Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs, and DI is calling for more ambitious framework conditions including a tax reform.
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11/24/2009 (News) Germany is overtaking on the inside Production has become less expensive in Germany, which is Denmark’s largest export market. At the same time, it has become more expensive to produce in Denmark. This has serious consequences for Danish companies.
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11/24/2009 (News) 175 companies demonstrate their green solutions Nearly 20,000 guests from 200 countries are expected to visit Bright Green which is the largest parallel event during COP15 in Copenhagen. Bright Green is organised by DI.
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11/24/2009 (News) New top posts mean an efficient EU On November 19, the EU heads of state and government appointed the first permanent chairman of the European Council and the first EU foreign policy representative. In DI’s opinion, the seed has been sown for a more efficient EU, and this is sorely needed in the midst of the current economic crisis.
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11/18/2009 (News) Sensible growth contribution in expensive budget The government’s 2010 budget involves a public finance deficit of nearly DKK 90 billion. The budget is stretched to the extreme and there is no latitude for further public expenditure, according to DI.
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11/18/2009 (News) Dramatic decrease in Danish exports Denmark is lagging sorely behind as other countries experience renewed progress in their exports, according to new statistics on the Danish foreign trade.
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11/18/2009 (News) Hard work ahead in Vietnam Vietnam is ravaged not only by tropical storms. The winds of the financial crisis are also felt in the Southeast Asian country. Exports are declining and unemployment is on the rise.
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11/17/2009 (News) Major export opportunities in Indian free trade agreement The Indian economy has returned to high growth. With a rapidly growing middle class counting several hundred millions, India provides fantastic market opportunities for Danish exporters and thus for Danish economic growth.
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11/17/2009 (News) Low corporate taxes in Germany entice Danish companies A long list of Danish companies may queue up at the southern border if the Germans go through with plans to halve the corporate tax rate from the current nearly 30% to 15%. In comparison, the Danish corporate tax rate is currently at 25%.
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11/16/2009 (News) When wind pushes for a better climate The time is now to reach ambitious emission reduction targets at COP15. So says Vestas Wind Systems A/S. According to the company, ambitious targets are the key to establish the right policies and regulatory frameworks that create incentives for clean energy such as wind. The time is now for wind power to contribute to the fight against climate change. This is the message Vestas is pushing during the Bright Green event in December.
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11/2/2009 (News) More computing power with lower electricity consumption The IT sector is also offering new ways of saving CO2 emissions. A strong IT infrastructure from the data centre to the end user’s PC can save the energy consumption of unnecessary data traffic as well as in the transportation of employees. “Compute more – Consume less” is the slogan of Dell A/S at the Bright Green exhibition.
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11/2/2009 (News) Strengthening transatlantic cooperation Last week there was a meeting of the Transatlantic Economic Council. It was the first meeting between the European Union and the Obama administration aimed at facilitating economic interaction between the EU and the United States.
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11/2/2009 (News) EU budget to target modern challenges The coming budget review from the European Commission is seeking to break with the agricultural policy of the EU. “It is positive, but we want to see it before we believe it,” says DI Consultant Torsten Asbjørn Andersen.
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11/2/2009 (News) Career women don’t need quotas Two out of three Danes don’t see any reason to introduce quotas for women on company boards, according to a survey. Quotas are just humiliating for women, according to a DI Deputy Director General.
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11/2/2009 (News) Harmonised rules on e-commerce in short supply Consumers miss out on good offers, savings and new products because two out of three homepages in the EU cannot handle cross-border e-commerce. As a consequence, the European Commission now plans to remove barriers for international e-commerce by introducing common consumer rights, simplifying VAT and copyright rules and improving the enforcement of consumer rights.
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10/13/2009 (News) When a car industry watches over the environment Both the production and use of vehicles must be environmentally defensible. As a result, Toyota Danmark A/S will be presenting a broad array of focus areas at the Bright Green exhibition – areas in which the company has buffed up environmental issues.
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10/13/2009 (News) Climate strategy needs money The government has given its business climate strategy the status of a growth strategy in order to create a good framework for Danish companies to exploit the market and growth options that the global climate and energy challenges offer. But DI Energibranchen says the strategy suffers from a lack of financing and clarification.
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