The Minister of Development Takis Theodorikakos met with the President of the Association of Businesses and Industries (SEB) Spyros Theodoropoulos, who earlier spoke at the 4th Economic Conference of Shipping, as well as on the NEWSROOM show on ERTNEWS with Giorgos Siadimas.

Mr. Theodorikakos pointed out that Greece must accelerate the productive transformation of its economy and invest in boosting productivity, industry and innovation. “The big bet is now the increase in productivity – because a safe Greece is only a productive and competitive Greece”, he noted, explaining that in this way we will also face the acute demographic problem and the great social and regional inequalities.

He referred to the policies of the Ministry of Development to strengthen the productive base: “We changed the philosophy and practice of the development law, effectively giving incentives for productive investments that create added value in the Greek economy.” As he pointed out, the three new development regimes, amounting to 450 million euros, are underway, concerning manufacturing, border and less developed areas, as well as large investments, which bring know-how and create new infrastructure and jobs. At the same time, he pointed out that the Ministry of Development supports more than 60 strategic and emblematic investments in critical sectors, “such as the pharmaceutical industry, which shows particular dynamics, but also the shipbuilding industry, which is now included in the regime of strategic investments”.

The Minister of Development highlighted the extensive reform program implemented by the Ministry of Development: “We are making it easier to do business, especially our industry, with a bill that will be passed in November. The process of modernizing manufacturing facilities is simplified, the operating framework of industrial and business parks becomes more flexible, the licensing process is further digitized with a complete upgrade of the OpenBusiness platform and we are introducing the digital Business Activity Bulletin”.

Referring to innovation – a key pillar of the new production model – he emphasized that the technological and research institutes of the country are being upgraded with 370 million euros. “In the next six months, we are preparing a new regime of the Development Law for New Technologies and Artificial Intelligence, in order to support small and medium-sized entrepreneurship with investments in new technology”, he added, pointing out that two more regimes will follow: for agro-food and extroversion.

In closing, Mr. Theodorikakos highlighted the major institutional reform of the new Independent Consumer Protection and Market Supervision Authority, which will have 300 new auditors and modern digital tools, acting as a single point of reference for the citizen and the market. “I strongly believe in this reform and call on all political forces to vote for it and support its implementation. To put an end to the toxic political climate of the last interval, which reaches the limits of an artificial division. Some appear as if they almost want the country broken up for the benefit of their party games. Only by being united can we Greeks move forward,” he stressed.