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Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - According to a forecast, North Rhine-Westphalia's economy will recover more slowly than expected from the setbacks in the corona pandemic.
"We will probably not be able to regain economic strength at the pre-crisis level until next year - 2022", said Minister of Economic Affairs Andreas Pinkwart (FDP) in Düsseldorf on Wednesday.
So far, based on scientific estimates, his ministry had expected to be able to do this by the end of 2021.
The export industry remains the engine of growth.
After the corona-related closings in the hospitality and retail sectors, the authority has now lowered its expectations of the overall economic development, according to the new forecast, the NRW economy will only grow by three percent this year instead of the previous five percent.
"A prerequisite for an early recovery is that the industry can continue to work and the existing restrictions for other areas of the economy are soon lifted," said Pinkwart.
The state minister appealed to the federal government to pay out promised financial aid to companies more quickly.
"This is the only way to secure the trust of companies that they will continue to work their way through this crisis."
After the disbursement of November aid for affected industries failed, the federal software required for this is finally available.
"We will now process the main applications as quickly as possible and modestly," said Pinkwart.
At the end of January, another software should be available with which applications for December aid can be processed.
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Frustration is widespread among the sectors affected - many companies are up to their necks.
The German Hotel and Restaurant Association (Dehoga) NRW said that only a fraction of the November aid was received.
Confidence in the state is waning.