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Support for the Regions: From now on, policy actions
and not just policy announcements
In recent years, we have noted that more and more emphasis is being
placed on policies supporting regional development and convergence. Here
at the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (FING), we feel that
the only way forward is for the present government to implement policy
measures, which support the elimination of regional inequalities and aim
at regional fusion.
Furthermore, as far as the implementation of a specific regional policy
is concerned, from the start of the 1st Community Support Framework
(1989 – 1993) and also during the subsequent CSFs, any ‘nation-wide’
regional policy created, has been incorporated in the overall Community
policies both in terms of funding and in terms of the general lines of
action required by the funding in question.
However, taking into consideration that 17 years have gone by during
which Greek regional policy has been implemented, we have as yet seen no
sign of a reduction in inter- and intra-regional inequalities, at least
in terms of GDP. In addition, it is not known if the rise in the
country’s GDP, and hence in the GDP of each of the regions, is due to
the impact of regional policy or to the influence of other independent
factors.
We have therefore made a list of 20 proposals aimed at resolving some of
these issues, with a view to eliminating regional inequalities.
We feel that it is important to focus on the following points:
1. concerted efforts by the government to attract foreign direct
investment – targeted and integrated – which will be focused in the
regions beyond Attica, and particularly in Northern Greece,
2. support for innovation and applied research in the regions,
3. faster implementation of the CSF, particularly as regards regional
projects,
4. the reduction of bureaucracy in all spheres of public administration,
5. the creation of the Eastern Thessaloniki Innovation Zone in order to
attract foreign direct investment for innovation,
6. the realisation of transport and entrepreneurship infrastructures,
7. the formation of Regional Councils for Competitiveness,
8. the removal of inconsistencies in the legislative framework regarding
entrepreneurship, with priority to be given to those laws that have a
direct impact on implementing investments,
9. more incentives to businesses, encouraging an outward-looking
attitude and leading to improved export performance,
10. the establishment of agreed measures with a decidedly long-term
scope that will support innovation and technological research,
11. the acceleration of structural changes and market liberalisation in
all economic sectors,
12. persistent government policy to reduce public debt,
13. the fixing of standards by means of which public sector efficiency
will be evaluated,
14. the eradication of corruption in the public sector,
15. the immediate commencement of a dialogue with business support
bodies, regarding the content of the new development law to be put into
force in 2007,
16. making the regional dimension as prominent as possible in the 4th
Community Support Framework,
17. the improvement and/or alteration of the legislative framework
regarding the labour market,
18. the development of human resources with computer and information
technology skills,
19. the administration of penalties to those who do not abide by the
rules of healthy competition, and
20. active support from the state for the development of actions
promoting an outward-looking attitude in Northern Greek businesses.
Our proposals can be implemented at once and are realistic. They
contribute substantially to development, support healthy
internationalisation, promote outward-looking policies in Greek
businesses and create the conditions for the further growth of
businesses that remain within the Greek borders.
The only thing that remains to be done is for the government to take the
relevant initiatives and decisions … The time has come for the Greek
government to focus on the regions – with policy actions and not just
policy announcements.
Previous President's Messages
Zero profits for processing industries in Northern Greece in 2010, with one in three businesses reporting losses
Only daring decisions will take the country out of this impasse
The Federation’s Proposals for development
The need to take measures to immediately bolster the economy and improve business competitiveness
A new year – new expectations for growth and development
Developmental measures to offset unemployment benefits with job subsidies
Enhancing "Greek Value" by resolving problems that drag on
Greece’s rise in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook ranking is encouraging news amidst the crisis
The Federation of Industries of Northern Greece making a decisive contribution to manufacturing strategy up to 2020
The government's immediate priorities in 2010 to develop the infrastructure in Thessaloniki and boost the competitiveness of manufacturing enterprises
Expectations from the new government: the manufacturing sector should be the new government’s focus
Industry should be among the Government’s policy priorities
Industry centre stage again
Proposals for avoiding the financial crisis
Bold decision-making for avoiding the financial crisis
Prospects for growth in Northern Greece in an environment of international crisis
Investment Law and Northern Greece
The market of izmir: the next goal for outward-looking enterprises of
northern greece
The
new government’s aspirations for thessaloniki and northern greece:
fing’s proposals for development
Thessaloniki and Northern Greece in International Markets
Regional
development policy as an engine for local industrial development
Global
orientation, productivity and realistic management of the National
Strategic Development Plan (NSDP). The challenges for 2007
Investment Law and Northern Greece
The new
legislative framework for research and technology in Greece: a
government nod of approval for the proposals made by the Federation of
Industries of Northern Greece (FING)
Thessaloniki has the potential to become the second pole of development
for Greece and the headquarters for development organizations nationwide
Changing
attitudes to combat unemployment – Proposals for creating closer links
between education and production
Support
for the Regions: From now on, policy actions and not just policy
announcements
The
business community – a force for social cohesion in Northern Greece
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