The head of the German central bank, Jens Weidmann, said Wednesday the current influx of refugees presented a huge challenge for Germany, but also an opportunity in the face of the country's ageing population.

"Coping with the influx of refugees will demand a lot from Germany," Weidmann told the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" daily in an interview. "But it also brings with it opportunities."

The Bundesbank chief made it clear that those opportunities hinged on a successful integration of the newcomers into society and the domestic labor market.

Weidmann emphasized that given the demographic change in Europe's powerhouse with a rapidly ageing society as a result Germany needed additional workers in order to maintain its prosperity.

Estimates put the number of qualified workers that Germany will lack by 2020 at 1.8 million.

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