Ringkøbing-Skjern named most business-friendly municipality in Denmark according to Dansk Erhverv survey

Ringkøbing-Skjern has been identified as the most business-friendly municipality in Denmark, according to a recent survey released by the business organization Dansk Erhverv. This marks the first time Dansk Erhverv has conducted such a study, while Dansk Industri (DI) has a long history of publishing similar reports. Next week, DI will release its 15th annual report, leading to two sets of rankings.

Brian Mikkelsen, director of Dansk Erhverv, emphasizes the importance of increased attention on the business conditions in municipalities. However, DI expressed concerns about the timing of the surveys. Emil Fannike Kiær, membership director at DI, noted that it may create confusion if their results are overshadowed by those of Dansk Erhverv.

Typically, Herning and Ikast-Brande municipalities compete for the top spots in DI’s surveys, whereas Ringkøbing-Skjern ranked 12th in the most recent DI report. In contrast, the top-ranked municipality from DI’s latest survey is ranked 38th in Dansk Erhverv’s report.

Despite areas of overlap between the two surveys, such as background information and questions, there are also distinctions. For instance, Dansk Erhverv focuses on the vitality of town centers, arguing that a vibrant urban core with fewer empty storefronts fosters a positive atmosphere that attracts residents and businesses.

Mikkelsen sees no issue with the timing of the surveys or the existence of different organizations conducting their own evaluations. He believes that greater scrutiny of municipal business conditions is beneficial. A third organization, SMV Danmark, had previously ranked Ringkøbing-Skjern 43rd in a similar survey three years ago.