Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace Investment Profile November 2017 Contents 1. Profile of the Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace 2. Eastern Macedonia-Thrace’ competitive advantages 3. Investment Opportunities 1. Profile of the Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace 2. Eastern Macedonia-Thrace’ competitive advantages 3. Investment Opportunities 4. Investment Incentives The Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace : Quick facts (I) Eastern Macedonia and Thrace consists of the northeastern parts of the country, and is divided into the Macedonian regional units of Drama, Kavala and Thasos and the Thracian regional units of Xanthi, Rhodope, Evros and Samothrace •The Region covers 14.157 sq. km corresponding to 10,7% of the total area of Greece. It borders Bulgaria and Turkey to the north, the prefecture of Serres to the west and the Thracian Sea to the south •The Prefecture of Evros, the borderline of Greece is the largest prefecture of Thrace. It borders Bulgaria to the north and northeast and Turkey to the East, having the river Evros, The island of Samothrace also belongs to the prefecture of Evros •The prefecture of Rhodope lies in central Thrace covering 2,543 sq. km. The capital of the prefecture is Komotini, the administrative seat of the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace. •The prefecture 4.of Xanthi Investment covers 1,793 sq .Incentives km., of which 27% is arable land, 63% forests and 3% meadows in the plains •The Prefecture of Kavala is in East Macedonia and covers 2,110 sq. km. The islands of Thassos and Thassopoula also belong to the prefecture •The prefecture of Drama is well-known for the verdant mountain ranges, the water springs, the rare flora and fauna. The mountainous regions cover 63,5% of the area, the semi-mountainous 25,30% The Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace : Quick facts (II) Demographics and Workforce quick facts Population: 608.182 (2011) 5.6% of the total Greek population Main macroeconomic data of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 GDP* 7,579 7,004 6,903 n.a. n.a. GDP per capita** 12,403 11,498 11,366 n.a. n.a. 4. Investment Incentives Gross fixed capital formation* 958 1,067 938 n.a. n.a. Unemployment 22.8 26.7 24.1 23.4 22.8 Rate (%) *In million euros **In euros Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority Significant performance indicators Gross Value Added by Industry 2014 (Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace) Industry/ Sector Gross Value Added (amount in % in total GVA of the Region million euro) Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 433 7.1 Mining, energy, water supply and 248 4.1 waste management Manufacturing 689 11.3 Construction 180 2.9 Trade, transportation and storage, 1,261 20.7 accommodation and food service activities Information and Communication 96 1.6 Financial and Insurance activities 162 2.6 4.Real Investment Estate activities Incentives772 12.7 Scientific, administrative and support 125 2.0 service activities Public administration, education, 1,926 31.6 health and social work activities Arts, recreation and other service 207 3.4 activities Total 6,098 100 Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority 1. Profile of the Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace 2. Eastern Macedonia-Thrace’ competitive advantages 3. Investment Opportunities 4. Investment Incentives Natural Treasures The natural environment in the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace is characterized by a variety of habitats, which host a great number of rare species, and by unique biotopes There are many significant protected reserves (the Elati forest, the Frakto forest, the only virgin forest in Greece, the Porto Lagos lagoon, the Evros Delta, the Dadia forest) The natural environment of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace is protected by the Ramsar Treaty and by the E.U. initiatives CORINE and NATURA 2000 The Rhodope mountain range, the forest complex in Drama and the riparian forest of Nestos, although they have been degraded, continue to be the most significant biotopes The Evros Delta, the Nestos Delta and the lake ecosystems are sanctuaries for a large number of different species of breeding or wintering birds, which is an indication of the good preservation of the natural environment and the diversity of the biotopes Agricultural Production • The primary sector in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, especially agriculture, plays a key role in GDP. An important advantage to the economic growth of the region is added by the forests, especially the forests in the Drama prefecture • The arable plains (40% of them are irrigated) are cultivated intensively, producing cotton, corn, tobacco, grains and tomato •In the Nestos Delta the agriculture of asparagus and rice is widespread. In north Evros and in Tychero the asparagus plant is systematically cultivated •The beans and the potatoes of Kato Nevrokopi are the most well known products of the area •In recent years the vineyards in the Prefecture of Drama have significantly developed for the production of wines of appellation, achieving international recognition •Agriculture is the main revenue in the Prefecture of Xanthi, as 45% of the population works in this sector. Education and research (Ι) •Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) was established in July 1973 and started operating during the academic year 1974-1975. It was named "Democritus" in honor of the ancient Greek philosopher Democritus, who hailed from the town of Abdera in Thrace •The administration of DUTH is headquartered in Komotini, which is the capital city of the Administrative Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. •The University is currently operating eight Faculties and nineteen Schools in four cities of Thrace - eight in Komotini, five in Xanthi, four in Alexandroupolis and two in Orestiada •Overall, more than 15,000 students are studying at DUTH at undergraduate and post-graduate level •The University plays an important role in strengthening the national and cultural identity of the region of Thrace, and contributes to the high level of education in Greece Source: http://duth.gr/first/university/index.en.shtml Education and research (ΙΙ) School of Agricultural Sciences & Forestry (Alexandroupolis) Department of Agricultural Development (Orestiada – Evros) Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources (Orestiada – Evros) School of Education Science (Alexandroupolis – Evros) Department of Education Sciences in Early Childhood (Alexandroupoli) Primary Level Education – School (Alexandroupoli) School of Classics & Humanities Studies (Komotini) Department of Greek Literature (Komotini) Department of Language, Literature and Civilization of the Black Sea Countries (Komotini) History & Ethnology – School (Komotini) School of Social, Political and Economic Sciences (Komotini) Department of Social Administration (Komotini) Department of Economics (Komotini) Law School (Komotini) Department of Hellenic Studies (Komotini) Source http://duth.gr/department/index.en.shtml Education and research (ΙΙI) School of Engineering (Xanthi) Department of Architectural Engineering (Xanthi) Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (Xanthi) Department of Production and Management Engineering (Xanthi) Department of Environmental Engineering (Xanthi) Department of Civil Engineering (Xanthi) School of Health Sciences (Alexandroupolis) Medical Department (Alexandroupolis) Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics (Alexandroupolis) Physical Education & Sports Science – Faculty (Komotini) Department of Physical Education & Sports Science Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology (Kavala) School of Technological Engineering School of Business and Economics School of Agricultural Technology School of Health and Welfare Source http://duth.gr/department/index.en.shtml Transport Infrastructure The Region is served by two airports, two international ports the “Egnatia Road” that connects the port of Igumenitsa in Epirus with Alexandroupoli in Thrace and the railway network that passes through the entire region Airports 1 . Alexandroupolis “Dimokritos “Airport - Alexandroupolis 2 . Kavala “Megas Alexandros” Airport - Keramoti Ports 1. Alexandroupolis 2. Kavala Large Infrastructure Projects (under development) - HRADF • Τhe airport of Kavala is including in the cluster A of regional airports that HRADF concluded successfully international tender process in the granting of the right of concession for the development and operation of 14 regional airports in Greece. In particular, two 40-year concessions to upgrade, maintain, manage and operate two clusters of seven regional airports (per each) have been conferred to a consortium of companies consisting of Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide and Slentel Limited of Copelouzos Group. • The portfolio of the Hellenic Republic includes the ports of Alexandroupolis and Kavala. Particularly, HRADF holds 100% of the shares in the port and has the right to operate it until 2042. The Hellenic Republic is in the process of evaluating the most appropriate approach for the development of these ports. Source: www.hradf.com Transnational "Sea2Sea" mega railway project • Developments on the important transnational project "Sea2Sea", concerning the upgrade of the railway line, connecting Thessaloniki-Kavala-Alexandroupolis-Ormenio with the Bulgarian ports of Burgas, Varna and the river delta of Danube •The implementation and upgrade of the Eastern "Railway Egnatia", costing approximately 2.5nbn euros, of which 1.7bn concerns the construction of the new "coastal" line design, electrified for the whole Thessaloniki-Kavala-Xanthi