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Thessaloniki has the potential to become the second pole of development
for Greece and the headquarters for development organizations nationwide
The Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (FING) has over the
years supported the fact that the vehicle for development in our country
can be none other than the mitigation of regional inequalities. In this
context, the Federation has underlined that the focus of development
policies should from now on be shifted to the regions. The FING’s stance
on this issue is not to be taken as “empty words”, nor should it be seen
as yet another log on the blazing “rivalry” between Athens and
Thessaloniki.
Unfortunately, and despite the government’s assiduous efforts over the
past two years, Athens maintains a clear lead – in terms of development
– over all Greek regions by far. This is why it is now time for actions
to bear witness, so that we may all be convinced that development
activity has indeed been shifted from Athens and the Region of Attica,
to the rest of the regions in Greece.
The arc-shaped geographical area of Northern Greece (“Northern Greece
Arc”) displays great potential for economic development, while serving
as a hub for the development and propagation of production and trade
relationships both inside and outside the national borders.
The geography of the area, combined with a number of other factors,
contribute to the shaping of an exceptionally favourable basis for
development in Northern Greece, an area which boasts a multitude of
comparative advantages:
1. Abundant natural, mineral and water resources, combined with rich
subsoil.
2. The ideal geographical location of the area, at the crossroads of
national and international transportation axes carrying traffic from
North to South and East to West, rendering Northern Greece the gateway
of the European Union to the Balkan states and Southeast Europe as a
whole.
3. The presence of Thessaloniki as a second pole of development,
enhanced in its role by a dynamic history in business, trade and
cultural affairs.
4. A dynamic industrial foundation and a remarkable collection of
cultural and historical treasures. Significant development of the
shorelines and the overall presence of tourist resources spread over a
large area.
5. A network of smaller, symmetrically-distributed urban centers that
can act as local poles for the concentration of population and
activities, forming the basis for further development of the inner-lying
areas.
With the ultimate goal of removing regional inequalities and enhancing
the entrepreneurial fabric of the regions, the FING aims to render
Thessaloniki the Second Pole of Development for Greece and the
Headquarters for Development Organisations nationwide.
In this context, we believe therefore that the Government must:
Accelerate reform,
Lift
counter-incentives to the exercise of entrepreneurial activities,
Re-establish the state as the necessary condition for development,
Proceed
with implementation of the East Thessaloniki Innovation Zone,
Promote
Thessaloniki as the “Trade Fair Centre” of the Balkans,
Help the
Port of Thessaloniki evolve into a leading factor for the development of
transit and freight-forwarding commerce,
Make
Thessaloniki the headquarters of the “National Organisation for Research
& Technology”,
Establish
a General Secretariat for Balkan Issues at the Ministry of
Macedonia-Thrace,
Establish
a Market Surveillance Agency based in Thessaloniki,
In addition, a number of specific issues for each region in the Northern
Greece Arc, aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of each of our
member-enterprises, should also be addressed.
I would like to stress that our standpoint and proposals are designed
to:
1. help local industry exit the long-drawn-out crisis,
2. promote the balanced development of the four regions in the Northern
Greece Arc,
3. reduce the development gap between the capital and the regions,
4. promote Thessaloniki as the indisputable second pole of development
for Greece.
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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