The importance of the NSRF as a critical financial tool for reducing unemployment and increasing employment was emphasized by the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Niki Kerameos, speaking at an event on the theme “NSRF 2014-2020: A Strong Development Footprint for All”.

As Mrs. Kerameos said, through the utilization of the NSRF 2014-2020, employment programs were designed, which created many new jobs.

In fact, it focused on four programs, which are as follows:

– the program for young innovative entrepreneurship. The action concerned young people, aged 18 to 29, who were not in education or professional activity,

– the program to grant business initiatives to employ 3,000 young freelancers, aged 18 to 29, with a focus on the digital economy,

– the grant program for business initiatives employing young freelancers, aged 18 to 29, with an emphasis on women and

– the business grant program for the employment of the unemployed, aged 30 and over, in the less developed Regions of the country, with an emphasis on the long-term unemployed and the unemployed of older ages.

As the Minister of Labor noted, the goal is to further reduce the unemployment rate and stimulate employment, especially in critical social groups, such as women, young people, older unemployed people and people with disabilities.

Speaking in the section “Entrepreneurship: The driving force of the Greek economy”, the president of the Council of Economic Experts, Michalis Argyrou, stated that the private sector must be constantly focused on the changing conditions of the global market and have the appropriate business plans.

For his part, Panagiotis Pantazatos (Greece-Cyprus Unit, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission), referred, among other things, to the action “Research-Create-Innovate”, the main objective of which is to connect research and of innovation with entrepreneurship and strengthening the competitiveness, productivity and extroversion of businesses towards international markets, with the aim of transitioning to quality innovative entrepreneurship and increasing domestic added value. The purpose of this action is to direct and effectively channel the available resources to promote research activities and the implementation of innovations in businesses, and especially in small and medium-sized businesses, through a series of interventions.

During the event, Michalis Kaminiaris, beneficiary of the “Research-Create-Innovate” action, AGENSO, an innovative company for agriculture and the environment, and Eugenia Pagouni, beneficiary of the “Qualitative Modernization” action, spoke. It is pointed out that PAGOUNI S.A. is one of the most pioneering and dynamic companies in the metalworking and processing sector.

The debate was moderated by Giorgos Zervos, Special Secretary for the Management of ERDF & Cohesion Fund Programs.