The support of the fur sector and the productive transformation of Western Macedonia were at the center of the meeting held today at the Kastoria Chamber by the Minister of Development Takis Theodorikakos and as he pointed out, “very large investments are being prepared that will put the region back on the map of strategic infrastructures for Greece and for the whole of Europe”.

According to a statement, the minister announced a third support program for fur businesses, while he said that within the next six months, new regimes for extroversion, modern technologies and social entrepreneurship will be activated in the Development Law, which also concern fur businesses.

The meeting was attended by the MP of Kastoria Maria Antoniou, the MP of Kozani Michalis Papadopoulos, the regional governor of Western Macedonia Giorgos Amanatidis, the deputy regional governor of Kastoria Dimitris Savvopoulos, the president of the Chamber of Kastoria Charalambos Karataglides and representatives of the chambers of the region.

In more detail, as the announcement states, Mr. Theodorikakos acknowledged that the fur industry has suffered a huge blow from the effects of the war in Ukraine. “The government has effectively supported entrepreneurship in the region and to date 12 million euros have been allocated to compensate fur businesses,” he noted, adding that 10 million euros have also been given to support suspended workers.

He then announced a third support program for fur businesses, which will amount to at least 21 million euros and will be financed by the Ministry of Development through the Public Investment Program, with the assistance of the Region of Western Macedonia.

“This program, which will be the last one, will be implemented within the next two years, with a fair distribution, in order to include the businesses that had not been financed until now. We want the process and the distribution of the money to be done with complete transparency, in close cooperation with the chamber, to ensure that no one will feel wronged”, stressed Mr. Theodorikakos.

He underlined that the support of the fur sector is important not only for businesses, but also for workers, adding that it is part of a wider plan for the productive reconstruction of Western Macedonia.

“We don’t want businesses to just exist, without perspective and without momentum. We want them to become competitive again. That is why, within the next six months, in the Development Law we will activate new regimes for extroversion, modern technologies and social entrepreneurship, which also concern fur businesses”, he stressed.

At the same time, the minister pointed out that we must proceed with speed in the productive transformation of the Greek economy and the transition to a new productive model, “which I feel is an urgent need, especially for Kastoria, but also more broadly for all of Western Macedonia.”

“We will continue to be together with the society, with the world of entrepreneurship and the workers, to support them in the difficulties and problems that exist, so that overall Kastoria, like the whole of Western Macedonia, can look forward. Because very large investments are being prepared that will put the region back on the map of strategic infrastructure for Greece and for the whole of Europe,” said the Minister of Development.