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.