Chr. Staikouras: We have created the conditions for Greece to enter a development trajectory

“After almost two years of demanding” struggle “with the pandemic and its complex, multifactorial effects on society and the economy, we managed to cover, to a large extent, the losses of 2020, while creating the conditions for our country to enter a path of strong and sustainable development “. This was stated by the Minister of Finance, Christos Staikouras at the presentation of the research of the Athens Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the University of Piraeus, on: “The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on business continuity and resilience of small and medium enterprises – The critical role of technology” .

The Minister underlined that unprecedented measures were taken in height and range, with the package of measures totaling 43.3 billion euros for the period 2020-2022 being the 4th largest in the world, while at the same time, significant amounts have been directed, in the same period, for tackling the effects of the climate and energy crisis.

In essence, he said, a broad “net” of protection has spread across the country’s productive fabric, helping businesses – and especially small and medium-sized ones – stay “alive” while new support measures were announced last week for January 2022. “Proving “We are vigilant, we respond immediately to the additional needs that arise, and we intervene with prudence and determination,” he said.

Mr. Staikouras continued by emphasizing that all the measures contributed substantially, in order for the companies to endure and at the same time to restart from the best possible starting point. “And they did it, as reflected in their turnover, which returned or even in some cases exceeded the levels of 2019, and in the improved economic indicators of manufacturing and industrial production.”

At the same time, the minister noted that the companies themselves took action during the crisis, as the pandemic itself accelerated the adoption of new technological tools. “It is now clear that digital maturity acted as a bulwark against the effects of the pandemic,” he said, adding that companies that had already adopted digital tools before the pandemic began to recover more easily and to a greater extent. of research, is of particular interest for technological developments that 85% of these companies, adopt and / or challenge the technological developments in their industry. “However, despite the obvious benefits of adopting modern technologies, the research concludes that small and medium-sized enterprises have low levels of digital maturity, which is a finding of other studies. To address this, the government, from the outset, “Promotes, consistently and effectively, the digital transformation of the state and the economy, contributing directly or indirectly to the promotion of digitization and the companies themselves,” said the minister.

Indicatively, he mentioned some of the key achievements of digital governance in the field of competencies of the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Independent Public Revenue Authority (AADE):

– Additional platforms were created specifically for the implementation of measures to support households and businesses, such as the platform “myBusinessSupport” for the beneficiaries of the Refundable Advance, Special Purpose Compensation, etc.

– Electronic invoicing and e-books for businesses were promoted, with the creation and launch of the “myData” platform of AADE, for the digitization of tax procedures and the treatment of tax evasion.

– The use of interconnected online cash registers has been expanded.

– Tax incentives are provided for conducting electronic transactions.

– The digital upgrade of the country’s tax and customs services is promoted.

– Taxisnet has been upgraded.

– The programs for support of borrowers affected by the health crisis, “BRIDGE” I and II, were implemented through an electronic platform.

– The new Out-of-Court Debt Settlement Mechanism operates through a digital platform for the settlement of all debts of households and businesses to the State, Social Security Institutions, banks and loan managers.

– Expenditures of most public bodies are cleared and paid with e-supporting documents, thanks to the application “Electronic Movement of Supporting Expenditures”.

– Electronic invoices are issued by the information systems to the State but also to companies with new specifications, in accordance with the European standards for electronic invoicing, achieving a reduction in the circulation of false documents, reduction of tax evasion, acceleration of repayment of electronic invoices for Public uniform electronic invoicing specifications between companies.

At the same time, he added, it is a great opportunity for the substantial technological transformation of the country, the utilization of the resources of the Recovery Fund, the actions of the new NSRF 2021-2027, which includes a distinct program for the digital transformation and the financing of private investments by the loans section of the Recovery Fund, amounting to 12.7 billion euros. The specific resources, the minister concluded, will be directed to the financing of eligible business plans, including proposals for digital upgrading of companies.

G. Pitsilis

The commander of AADE, George Pitsilis, in his greeting at the same event referred to the methodical action of the Authority so that all its services are implemented digitally at all stages and with the same practices per regional unit “as, also, there are discrepancies. must stop “as he noted. The triptych digitization – simplification – standardization is at the basis of the reform of AADE so that you can serve the citizen directly from his computer screen.

The commander mentioned some numbers indicative of the digital adaptation of companies. Through the electronic platform my DATA, 580,000 automatic contacts have been served, while about 160,000 have registered in the electronic invoice application and more than 60,000 electronic media visits are made every day, while this number is constantly increasing. He added that very soon, for all the Tax Offices, the appointments will be digitally scheduled, while through the platform for the transfer of real estate, 95,000 statements were made, ie more than 200,000 visits were made.