K. Fragogiannis: Continuous strengthening of Greek economic and commercial interests internationally

To make use of the tools that are now offered to them…in the plate, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy and External Affairs, Kostas Fragogiannis, called on the Greek businessmen, speaking from the forum of a conference organized this evening in Thessaloniki. The Deputy Minister indicated the 669 actions of the National Strategic Plan for Outsourcing 2022, which was created for the first time in Greece and focuses on 47 target countries, and called on entrepreneurs to make the “dream” of installing their products on the global market a reality.

The conference, with the theme “Trends, challenges and opportunities in the field of international economic, commercial and business relations”, was jointly organized at the premises of TIF-Helexpo by the Greek Business Association, the Panhellenic Federation of Tourism and Shipping Businessmen (P.O. E.T.N.) and the Federation of Entrepreneurs of the Regional Unity of Thessaloniki (O.E.P.E.Th).

Referring to the 2022 National Outsourcing Strategic Plan, Mr. Fragogiannis emphasized that it is a 200-page road map, which shows all of Greece’s economic outsourcing actions, by geographic region and sector of activity.

Noting that Greece’s National Strategic Outreach Plan is detailed, costed and detailed, Mr. Fragogiannis stated that the Plan sets tangible and measurable goals for economic diplomacy, adapted to the needs of a flexible foreign policy, proves in practice the success of the project exercise of integrated economic diplomacy by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, implements the government’s vision to defend and strengthen Greek economic and commercial interests internationally, as well as to attract foreign investment in targeted sectors of the Greek economy and records the active presence of our country in multilateral international economic reputable organizations and exhibitions.

Underlining the government’s commitment to the defense and continuous strengthening of Greek economic and commercial interests internationally, the Deputy Minister emphasized that Greece’s position in the international investment environment is constantly improving, and noted that as a result of the reform and legislative initiatives that have been undertaken, “the Greece is developing into a reliable regional business center for the wider Eastern Mediterranean and Southeastern Europe, with an emphasis on the critical sectors of energy, connectivity and data transfer.”

Referring to the tangible results of government policy in the critical area of ​​economic diplomacy, Mr. Fragogiannis pointed out that in terms of exports, Greece emerged as the champion in Europe in 2021, in the total volume of exports per country, recording an annual change of 21.9 %, against the average of 11% for the countries of the Eurozone.

Regarding investments, Mr. Fragogiannis emphasized that for the years 2021 and 2022 there was a double-digit increase, with foreign direct investments registering a 72.3% increase last year. He also noted that in 2021, 43 strategic investments totaling 4.8 billion euros were approved, 30 PPP projects with a budget of 3.941 billion euros, industrial production increased by 10%, the stability of the banking system was strengthened through second chance programs and decreased by 46% non-performing loans compared to 2019.

Speaking about the measures to deal with the international energy crisis, Mr. Fragogiannis pointed out that the measures taken in Greece “exceed the corresponding support measures of other European countries”. He specifically highlighted the 3.5 billion euro subsidies for the increased energy costs in households and businesses, the 900 million euro subsidies for vulnerable households, the support of the primary sector, the fuel subsidies and the retroactive subsidy of 280 million euros of 60% of the rising cost of electricity, for bills issued between December 2021 and May 2022. In addition, he said, a zero rate of excise duty was fixed on diesel fuel oil used in the agricultural sector and subsidized the sale price for April “with the total subsidies and reductions from PPC and DEPA trading, to exceed 3.5 billion euros”. In fact, the measures taken include a 90 million euro increase in the heating allowance for the years 2021 and 2022 and an 80% increase in the average monthly electricity subsidy for a household.

He recalled the strengthening of Greek businesses during the pandemic and saying that this “exceeds the European average in all sectors”, he underlined that it amounted to 43.4 billion euros in all affected sectors. He clarified that the support was combined with continuous and permanent reductions in taxes and insurance contributions, financial support of 8.3 billion euros through the seven cycles of the refundable advance payment and the establishment of a loan repayment subsidy program for those affected by the pandemic, as well as a rent reduction program.

Among other things, Mr. Fragogiannis pointed out that the growth rate of the Greek economy for this year and 2023 is expected to be higher than the European average.

In his short greeting, the Deputy Minister of the Interior, responsible for Macedonia and Thrace, Stavros Kalafatis, underlined that the Greek government faced the multiple crises with the aim of soothing the wounds of all Greek citizens, and focused on the opportunities that portend for our country the more than 70 billion euros from the Recovery Fund and the new NSRF. In the same spirit, the head of the prime minister’s office in Thessaloniki, Maria Antoniou, invited businessmen to “look high and far”.

The president of the Association of Businessmen of Greece, Yannis Mandrinos, in his statement stated that in the last three years the attractiveness of Greece for investments has been increasing and he referred to the efforts being made to establish a Greek-Syrian Chamber in Thessaloniki.

SOURCE: AMPE