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Enhancing "Greek Value" by resolving problems that drag on
It's been almost a year since the Federation of Industries of Northern
Greece (FING) took the initiative to bring manufacturing back into focus
in the government's development policy.
Following this initiative, and being aware of the difficult situation
its member industries are in as a result of the continued economic
crisis, the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece recommended to
the Prime Minister Mr. G. A. Papandreou to promote the "Greek Value" as
a way to take the country out of the economic crisis, and for industries
to regain their lost share in the domestic market. I am sure that this
new, ground-breaking initiative undertaken by our Federation, will make
a crucial contribution to the survival of our industries and will help
generate new prospects once the economic crisis is over.
In the meantime, at its customary meeting with the Prime Minister on the
occasion of the Thessaloniki International Fair, the Federation of
Industries of Northern Greece has taken, once again, a well-documented
position and made substantiated recommendations regarding the new bill
for investment incentives in the country. We believe that our
long-lasting efforts for the effective devolution of the evaluation and
audit processes for investment proposals are being vindicated through
the establishment of a Business Development Unit (BDU), which will be
based in Thessaloniki.
Moreover, our Federation's standing and dependability are now truly
recognised and this is reflected in the fact that it is the only
representative of the Greek regions on the Council for Monitoring and
Evaluating the Implementation of the Investment Law. It is certain that
our participation in this Council will help further the interests of our
member industries.
Of course, we do not overlook the fact that, during this period of
economic crisis, a number of problems faced by our member industries
will remain unfortunately unresolved. Particularly after the government
reshuffle, our Federation has initiated a series of meetings with
newly-appointed members of government, seeking not only to inform them
of the problems faced by the manufacturing industry in outer regions,
but mainly to ensure that there is continuation in the affairs of the
State and to avoid the situation of having to start all over again after
a change of government.
So, we have always maintained that the most important reform to be
undertaken by the government in this period of economic crisis, aimed at
supporting industry, will indeed be to bring manufacturing back into
focus in its development policy.
In this context, we are proposing the speeding up of social dialogue on
shaping a new industrial policy for the country, which effectively
commenced once the conference "INDUSTRY 2020 Federation of Industries of
Northern Greece – Eurobank EFG: Regional Development – Innovation –
Outward-looking Approach" was over.
In order to effectively help manufacturing industries in the country, it
is absolutely necessary to speed up that dialogue and the functioning of
the Working Groups that we have proposed during the proceedings of the
aforementioned conference. With the help of FING, the first Study Group
is already up and running in the textile and clothing industry and, on
our initiative, the respective Groups for the food & beverage industries
and construction materials have already been established. We are
expecting that in the ensuing period they will hold their meetings to
study the industrial policy proposals arrived at during the aforesaid
conference.
Above all, however, the liquidity of businesses should be increased and
this may be achieved by having mandatory clauses included in the bank
support scheme for direct funds to enterprises, and in particular, to
outward-looking enterprises. In the meantime, the government will have
to re-organise the late payments and post-dated cheques system.
Currently, liquidity is the first thing that is requested in the market
and by enterprises, in particular manufacturing enterprises, cannot
afford to have the credit burden passed on to them.
At any rate, new direct and indirect taxes should not be imposed, while
I believe that a VAT increase will act as a break on the recovery of the
Greek economy.
From now on, the objectives to aim at are as follows: 1) protecting low
incomes to ensure social cohesion during this period of economic crisis
and, 2) announcing practical measures to support the country's
enterprises, in particular the manufacturing enterprises.
Let's see…
Previous President's Messages
A New Year showcasing GREEK VALUE
A new year, with changes in the state and society
Change of Prime Minister accompanied by new expectations about a way out of the financial crisis
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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