Christos Staikos is the chairman of Enterprise Greece, a public organization that is designed to promote and support investment opportunities in Greece and to act as a kind of Investor’s Ombudsman.
Ιn his interview to Evi Papadosifaki for Athens News Agency, Christos Staikos stressed that, “the stronger the sense of political and economic stability becomes, along with the promotion of the country’s comparative advantages and the certainty of exit from the financial adjustment programme with a debt reduction, the more positive messages we receive from the international environment.”
I.L.According to Staikos, 2017 has been an excellent year in regards to the extroversion of the Greek economy: a historical record-year in exports and the best performance of the decade in terms of foreign direct investment. The Greek industries that combine both comparative advantages of the country and international investment mobility are, among others: agri-food, new technologies, tourism and real estate, renewable energies, health sciences, environmental technologies, supply chain, intra-group services, creative and cultural industries.
Staikos acknowleges that obsiously entrepreneurs want a clearer framework, “and to this end, in recent years, substantial reforms and actions have been made, or are under way. For example, institutional changes simplifying the licensing process in the manufacturing sector, not limited to easing and speeding up procedures, but with more ambitious aims, such as to completely reform the chaotic framework for industrial parks. Another significant reform is the framework of land use with the configuration of forest maps and cadastre”.
Christos Staikos added that Enterprise Greece is also implementing a more efficient programme to enhance the extroversion of Greek enterprises in productive sectors of the economy: “the shaping of foreign trade policy, in both macroeconomic and microeconomic terms requires, among other things, systematic information and documentation for strategic decision-making, as well as for implementing, updating and monitoring an integrated Operational Action Plan to support exports. At present, information is fragmented and heterogenous; we are planning to develop a central tool and reference point that will provide helpdesk services to support Greek enterprises with export market entry.”
A phrase one comes across when browsing through the organization’s website is “Invest in Greece”. Given that there is an increase in both foreign direct investment and exports, what is the feedback you receive from your talks with potential investors? In which areas does Enterprise Greece expect investment interest to focus on this year, and what actions are in the pipeline for 2018?
According to an international survey regarding Nation Brands, Greece is constantly gaining credibility, registering a significant 41% increase over the previous year. After a few difficult years, a number of positive facts and economic indicators confirm that the Greek economy is recovering and entering a new, optimistic and promising period that we must work to transform into stable, sustainable and equitable growth.
When it comes to 2017 especially, it’s been an excellent year as regards the extroversion of the Greek economy: a historical record-year in exports and the best performance of the decade in terms of foreign direct investment. Specifically, we had an increase of 7.1% as compared to 2016, reaching € 19.98 billion, and an increase of 13.2% and € 28.83 billion including petroleum products. At the same time, net foreign direct investment rose to 3.6 billion euros, an increase of 29.4% compared to 2016.
Τhe stronger the sense of political and economic stability becomes, along with the promotion of the country’s comparative advantages and the certainty of exit from the financial adjustment programme with a debt reduction, the more positive messages we receive from the international environment.
The aim of Enterprise Greece is to make the most of this positive momentum and to attract even more dynamically the interest of the international investment community in Greece. As for 2018, we plan to hold several events at home and abroad, in cooperation with the competent ministries and institutions, to attract new investments.
In the context of the new development strategy as well as the systematic study of Greek economic areas and their prospects, the industries that combine both comparative advantages of the country and international investment mobility are, among others: agri-food, new technologies, tourism and real estate, renewable energies, health sciences, environmental technologies, supply chain, intra-group services, creative and cultural industries. For example, the export-oriented manufacturing sector is constantly gaining ground, capitalizing on the country’s strategic position and quality products, as reflected in a recent foreign investment of 30 million euros in a Greek food company.
The key demand of entrepreneurs is to reduce disincentives and bureaucracy. What are prospective investors asking from you? How many requests is the organization currently handling? Which sectors of the economy and what size investments do these requests involve?
It is obvious that we all want a clearer framework, and to this end, in recent years, sand to this end, in recent years, substantial reforms and actions have been made, or are under way. For example, institutional changes simplifying the licensing process in the manufacturing sector not limited to easing and speeding up procedures, but with more ambitious aims, such as to completely reform of the chaotic framework for industrial parks. Another significant reform is the framework of land use with the configuration of forest maps and cadastre. Steps have been made, with more on the way, relating to the reform of the strategic investments framework (simplification of procedures, expansion of productive activities, etc.).
As part of the aforementioned actions and in combination with financial instruments such as the NSRF (National Strategic Reference Framework) and the developmental law, which are but a sample of what is taking place for the improvement of the investment environment in Greece, we are striving to strengthen our work in two ways: a) through information on key issues such as location, authorization procedures, available investment incentives and financing tools, and b) through offering support when delays, difficulties, obstacles or other problems are faced by investors, mainly in licensing issues. In this context, we expect to upgrade the “Investor’s Ombudsman” Agency, which operates under certain conditions and deals with investment projects worth over 2 million euros. By 2017, the organization handled some 50 such cases relating to tourism, energy, food and beverages, shipping, chemicals, technology and industry, the majority of which were successfully resolved.
What do the 2017 data show? Has the number of companies that took part in promotional and advancement activities for Greek products and services increased, and which industry programmes will continue in 2018?
With the improvement of the operation and infrastructure of the organization constantly in mind, we are implementing a more efficient and representative programme to enhance the extroversion of Greek enterprises in productive sectors of the economy, hoping to increase their participation in our actions, which was actually the case in 2017, as about 1,000 companies took part.
In 2018, we are planning to participate in 54 exhibitions (up 20% over 2017), boosting pre and post marketing activities in 10 industries (food and beverages, agricultural products, technology and IT, agricultural equipment and supplies, cosmetics and beauty products, building materials, industrial and marine equipment, hotel and restaurant equipment, interior decoration, clothing) in 23 countries in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and USA.
At the same time, we are expanding our affiliations abroad with industry partnerships, buyer and importer invitations, targeted B2B meetings, in-store promotions and we are amplifying the exporter information programme. Additionally, we are continuing the promotion of Greek wine in target markets (Japan, South Korea, China, USA, Canada) and we are implementing a comprehensive programme to strengthen the brand of our agri-food sector.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in the process of creating an extroversion portal, combined with an upgraded help desk. What will these tools offer to the Greek entrepreneur, especially small-medium enterprises that have not yet ventured to seek their share in international markets, as well as to foreign investors?
The shaping of foreign trade policy, in both macroeconomic and microeconomic terms requires, among other things, systematic information and documentation for strategic decision-making, as well as for implementing, updating and monitoring an integrated Operational Action Plan to support exports. At present, information is fragmented and heterogenous; it is thus necessary, as in other countries, to develop a central tool and reference point that will provide helpdesk services to support Greek enterprises with exports.
This project can contribute to the Operational Action Plan for enhancing the competitiveness and extroversion of Greek companies through targeted support for businesses that have the characteristics required for export market entry.
It is obvious that this Plan will facilitate Greek companies, especially small and medium-sized businesses, which need information and training. In this context, Enterprise Greece, in cooperation with the chambers of commerce of the country and other organizations, organized in 2017 some 30 training seminars around Greece on the subject of “Creation of exportable products and export procedures”. with the aim is to activate businesses by presenting them with the perspectives and tools for exporting. The seminares were attended by 1,148 executives of mainly small and medium-sized businesses.
I.L. & Μ.Η.
TAGS: BUSINESS & TRADE | INNOVATION | INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
