GREECE • Central Macedonia Building bridges for the future

Promoting new skills for new sectors is the main focus of the Central Macedonian employment strategy. With dedicated research and net- working programmes, this region in northern Greece is making the most of home-grown talents, whilst fostering key growth markets such as infor- mation and communication technologies (ICT).

Project name Recognising their over-reliance on agri- aimed to develop transport and skills, Innovative co-operation for the culture, local authorities were keen to paving the way for new sectors such as development of employment strategies in promote new sources of employment, ICT, leisure and construction. New rail the region of Central Macedonia from technology to culture, construction links in the districts of Pella, Pieria and Project duration and leisure. Encouraging controlled Thessaloniki (among others) are key November 2003 to October 2005 tourism has also helped to address examples of forward-looking investment EU co-funding major development, employment and in infrastructure. EUR 461,579 (43.63%) environmental concerns – from the deprived mountain areas to the city of With industrial parks being set up Total budget Thessaloniki. throughout the region (like in Chalkidiki, EUR 1,057,829 Kilkis and Serres) the project is attract- Partners The first aim of this “innovative co-oper- ing more new business and providing Prefectures of Thessaloniki, Imathia, ation” project was to launch a long-term new opportunities to once isolated rural Kilkis, Serres, Pieria, Pella and Chalkidiki labour review, allowing decision-makers communities. The local employment Association of Exporters to observe trends and plan for the fund created under the project has been of Northern Greece future. The data collected was used in key to the entire process and remains Association of Industries of Northern Greece pilot projects for each of the seven local instrumental. Thessaloniki Workers Centre (Mak.In.E.) authorities. Establishment of a social European Centre For Communication, dialogue forum was next on the agenda: Information And Culture assembling local officials, civil society, and Regional Development Agencies the business community. This aimed to launch and cement long-term partner- Contact Region of Central Macedonia ships for job creation. In the same vein, Mr Panagiotis Georgopoulos the active support of new businesses and Kath. Rossidou 11 entrepreneurs was another priority GR-540 08 Thessaloniki area. E-mail [email protected] Central Macedonia was keen to ensure [email protected] balanced development across the region Website and to bring local planning up to nation- www.rcm.gr al standards. On the one hand, the proj- ect has sought to upgrade traditional industries such as agriculture, food-pro- cessing and tourism; on the other, it has

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