Kai Ostermann has been re-elected as President of the Bundesverband Deutscher Leasing-Unternehmen (BDL) for another three-year term. The announcement was made during the 46th members' meeting in Munich, where Thomas Kolvenbach and Olaf Meyer were also confirmed as Vice Presidents.
In his speech, Ostermann highlighted a strong start to 2024 for the leasing industry, with an 8% increase in orders compared to the previous year. However, he expressed concerns about the decline in orders for production machinery and IT equipment, indicating a potential slowdown in industrial investments and digital transformation in Germany.
Ostermann emphasized the urgent need for investment incentives to address a significant investment deficit, estimated at around €155 billion. He called for economic policies that eliminate location disadvantages and create incentives for future investments, particularly in sustainable and digital transformation.
BDL CEO Dr. Claudia Conen echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of planning security and trust in economic policies to encourage investment in new, climate-friendly technologies. She criticized the recent cuts in public funding for climate-friendly investments, highlighting the adverse impact on the transport sector's environmental goals.
The meeting also saw the introduction of new board members Guido Feldhaus and Uwe Hildinger, replacing outgoing members.
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