New Bifi factory in Guben: 100 jobs and an economic turnaround!

New Bifi factory in Guben: 100 jobs and an economic turnaround!

On Friday, a new factory owned by the US company Jack Link's opened in Guben, a town in the Spree-Neiße district. In the future, this facility will produce the popular mini salamis, better known as Bifi. Production began in September 2024 and the topping out ceremony will be celebrated today. Guben's mayor Fred Mahro (CDU) emphasized the importance of the project for creating new jobs, which are in high demand in the region.

Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) also emphasized the economic impact of the settlement, which is intended to strengthen Brandenburg's competitiveness on an international level. Around 100 people currently work in the new factory, a significant number of whom come from Poland. This shows how close the cooperation is across national borders.

Structural change and investments

Jack Link's is investing up to 100 million euros in the factory, which serves as its second German production site after Ansbach. For the necessary infrastructure and development of the Deulowitz industrial area, Guben received funding of almost 300,000 euros to cover the planning costs for expanding the industrial area. In addition, the commercial area will be expanded by nine hectares, providing space for future companies.

At the opening, Minister Kathrin Schneider emphasized the positive development of the city of Guben and its sister city Gubin. The structural change in Lusatia, which is planned until 2038 and will lead from coal-fired power generation to sustainable jobs and renewable energies, will be significantly supported by such projects. Brandenburg is supporting the investment by Jack Link’s with 10.94 million euros from the directive “Improving the regional economic structure”.

Lausitz's pioneering role

Despite the progress, structural change remains a challenge for Lusatia, which was once a center for brown coal mining. The coal phase-out by 2038 is considered necessary, but there are also concerns about the socio-economic consequences. The region experienced significant migration between 1995 and 2015, and many former coal mining workers also face uncertain prospects.

The political and social debate has now shifted from the question of “if” to “when”. The experiences of the structural break in the 1990s are crucial for current perceptions and reactions to changes. It is clear that a socio-ecological transformation is necessary and that Lusatia has the opportunity to align its structures with sustainability.

Additionally, the Chinese company Botree Cycling plans to build a battery recycling plant in Guben, while the German-Canadian company Rock Tech's start of a lithium factory in the city has been delayed. The plan is to produce lithium for up to 500,000 electric cars per year, which will help strengthen electromobility.

Overall, it shows that the region is well on the way to creating new, sustainable jobs, even if there are still some challenges to be overcome. The development in Guben could serve as a positive example for structural change throughout Lusatia.