G. Smyrlis: 2021 was a record year for exports, at 40 billion euros

The significant increase in exports, the tools and the goals of the current year but also the results of the recent large business mission in Saudi Arabia are highlighted in an interview today in the Free Press by the Secretary General of International Economic Relations and Extroversion (ENDC) , Ioannis Smyrlis.

“2021 was a record year for Greek exports that reached 40 billion euros,” said Mr. Smyrlis, noting that “the government’s goal to increase exports to 48% as a percentage of GDP by 2023, from 37% in 2019, is no longer impossible “. He added: “In order to achieve this, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, next to the traditional tools at our disposal, participation in international exhibitions, organizing business missions in target countries, we have created and utilized new digital tools. In particular, we have digitized the offer We offer free webinars and training and familiarization programs for Greek exporters with e-commerce, so that exporters can promote and sell their products abroad. while it is worth noting that 2.0 million 3 million euro projects have been approved and included in the National Plan for Recovery and Sustainability of Greece, with the object of designing and elaborating training programs for exporters in electronic means “.

Asked about the National Strategic Extroversion Plan prepared at the General Secretariat for International Economic Relations and Extroversion, Mr. Smyrlis explained that its goal is to strengthen the extroversion of Greek companies, and in fact coordinated, while giving the same geographical area and sector. possibility for measurable results, which allow the outlines of the strategy for future initiatives. “The National Strategic Plan for Extroversion 2022, drawing on the experience of 2021, includes 670 actions in 47 target countries, recording an increase of 20% compared to 2021,” he said, noting that “33.6% of the actions are promotion-oriented. exports and 33.9% in attracting investment “. “Of this,” he added, “8% refers to the energy sector and 7.3% to investments in technology and know-how, two areas of central strategy for the current government. The actions concern not only the traditional Greek markets “but at the same time we are opening up to new emerging markets, such as Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.”

The main tool is the Offices of Economic and Commercial Affairs (ISD), as Mr. Smyrlis said. “They are our antennas all over the world, in order to provide substantial assistance and support to the Greek exporter,” he stressed. He added: “At the moment, there are 60 ISD Offices in 51 countries. “Mexico, Indonesia and Nigeria. In this context, we plan the redeployment of staffing based on the needs that arise in each country.”

Very important, as he mentioned, are the training and special education programs for ISDs related to the reformed Strategic Investment Framework (Fast Track), as well as the new investment and tax incentives provided in our country organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with EKDDA INEP . In addition, the interested companies can seek valid information for each country from the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (agora.mfa.gr) and the website of Enterprise Greece. He added that “in the framework of our coordinating role in the General Secretariat for International Economic Relations and Extroversion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we activated the Trade Facilitation Committee, in cooperation with all relevant bodies to address all current and extraordinary problems encountered by companies.”

Finally, the secretary general DOSE welcomed the numerous business missions to Saudi Arabia, stressing that “strong foundations have been laid for concrete agreements in the fields of energy, agri-food, high technology, as well as the prospect of transferring know-how and cooperation in the tourism sector.”

Source: AMPE