THE ATHENS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY Trade with Greece ANNUAL BUSINESS, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REVIEW No 46 2015 “We aim at turning political change in Greece into a new impetus for Europe” Alexis Tsipras, Prime Minister of Greece editorial Creating conditions for economic growth is an absolute necessity Constantine Michalos, President of the ACCI, Vice-President of Eurochambres We all know what default, credit event, Grexit mean. What it means for a government not to be able to pay salaries and pensions. What it means for a business to have to survive with closed banks and without any customers. What it means for a household not to be able to cover the bare necessities. verything suggests that, in the near future, partners is not enough for boosting growth and the Greek government will be called upon permanently exiting the crisis. Eto reach definite decisions. It will be called What is really at stake for the market, but also for upon to sign a new agreement with our partners the majority of Greek society, is how we will once and creditors, an agreement that will become a again create the conditions for economic growth; milestone for Greece's day after, signifying a growth that will create high-quality jobs in order whether we wish to stay our European course to help the country deal with the scourge of unem- and, of course, restore stability and liquidity in our ployment, and will enable the mobilization of the country, or enter uncharted waters, outside the country's human resources. A growth that will Euro zone. generate increased national wealth, in order to The government is faced with a tough reality. support social cohesion and gradually ameliorate Reaching a viable agreement with Greece's part- the impact of the crisis, especially on the finan- ners is crucial, since it is directly linked to the cially weakest groups of the population. country's ability to raise market funding. If the The government will have to immediately draft negotiation fails, the country will be faced with and implement a new national growth and social painful alternatives, which may jeopardize its euro cohesion plan, given that the option of ample and membership. However, striking a deal with our low-cost state borrowing is not available anymore. Trade with Greece Trade 1 Our positions about what is needed for the future instruments such as venture capital funds, are clear: business angels, soft loans, startup funds in ● Speeding up and completing structural change areas such as new technologies, agricultural in both the economy and the state. Not as a production etc. demand of the lenders, that has to be satisfied ● Boosting the competitiveness of domestic pro- in any way and at any cost. But as a national duction. Decisive interventions, within the necessity, aimed at establishing a modern, bounds of European legislation, for reducing productive and competitive economy. energy costs, and especially industrial power ● Formulating a clear national development plan, prices. Further simplification of procedures, and with a far-reaching orientation and explicit priori- reduction of the cost of setting up a business. ties. Utilizing the country's comparative advan- Creation of Industrial and Business Parks. tages, though the creation of new innovative ● Supporting the export activities of Greek enter- industries for the production of top-quality, inter- prises. Expansion of co-financing and guaran- nationally competitive, high-added-value goods. tee programmes for export-oriented enterprises; Differentiating and upgrading the output of establishment of an Import-Export Development conventional industries, to ensure that their Bank, drawing on successful examples from competitiveness is not solely based on the cost abroad. factor. Operationally linking agricultural pro- Provision of special tax incentives for engaging duction and the food industry. in extrovert business activities. ● A simple, stable and competitive tax system. ● Speeding up administrative reform, the priorities Featuring a 15% tax rate on the entire taxable being the restructuring of the public sector, the income of legal entities, the upgrading of the design of advanced organization charts, the Tax Procedure Code in regard to fines and establishment of qualitative and quantitative audits, a gradual reduction of VAT rates, the productivity targets, the creation of a serious exemption from VAT for small enterprises with evaluation system, with incentives and mecha- annual gross incomes of up to €25,000, and a nisms for awarding and attracting the best. radical overhaul of property taxation. ● A bold plan for fighting tax evasion. Promotion In conclusion, I would like to stress that the business of e-invoicing, and introduction of incentives world understands the difficulties the government is for both businesses and consumers to facing in its negotiation with our partners and credi- increase the use of electronic transactions. A tors. Realism, though, dictates that there is an potential reduction in tax rates will be condi- urgent need for reaching an agreement that will tional on the results of this project. satisfy Greece's partners and will set the econo- ● Utilization of NSRF 2014-2020 funds for my on a new course, boosting sound entrepre- improving the competitiveness of small and neurship and strengthening the country's social medium-sized enterprises. Enhancement of fabric. Trade with Greece Trade 2 pages 6. We aim at turning political change in Greece into a new impetus for Europe. By Alexis Tsipras, Prime No 46 2015 Minister of Greece Annual Business, Economic and Political Review by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry 8. Our aim is the administrative reform of the state. PUBLISHER: By Nikos Voutsis, Minister of Constantine Michalos, ACCI President the Interior and Administrative EDITORIAL SUPERVISION: ACCI Press Office, John Fotinias Reconstruction 7-9 Akadimias str. Athens - tel 210 3646043 MANAGING EDITOR: 10 . Bold measures for restarting the Theodore Vamvakaris economy. By George Stathakis, Minister of CONSULTING EDITOR: Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and John Triiris Tourism PHOTO: 12. Greece will regain an important place Costas Lakafosis in the global economic and business Iakovos Hatzistavrou Cover photo: GEFYRA S.A. / Nikos Daniilidis environment. By Panos Kammenos, President of the Independent Hellenes party, Minister of TRANSLATION: National Defence Nick Roussos LAYOUT - DTP: 14. Restoring and enhancing the growth ALFA - OMEGA PUBLICATIONS LTD prospects of the Greek economy: a top 80 Filikis Etairias Halandri, tel 210 6841889 priority. Creative Art Director: By Alekos Flabouraris, Minister of State Manoli Evangelia responsible for Coordinating Government PRINTING: Work Khartan Holding Limited 16. The structural upgrading of Greek tourism. Å ôÞ óéá å ðé ÷åé ñç ìá ôé êÞ, ïé êï íï ìé êÞ êáé ðï ëé ôé êÞ Ýê äï óç ôïõ By Elena Kountoura, Alternate Minister of Å ìðï ñé êïý êáé Âéïìç ÷á íé êïý Å ðé ìå ëç ôç ñß ïõ Á èç íþí Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and ÅÊ ÄÏ ÔÇÓ: Tourism Êùí óôá íôß íïò Ìß ÷á ëïò, ðñü å äñïò Å ÂÅ Á 18. The agrifood complex as a growth Å ÐÉ ÌÅ ËÅÉÁ ÅÊ ÄÏ ÓÇÓ Ãñá öåß ï Ôý ðïõ Å ÂÅ Á, Á êá äç ìß áò 7-9 Á èÞ íá ôçë 210 3646043 instrument. Áñìüäéïò: ÃéÜííçò ÖùôåéíéÜò By Vangelis Apostolou, Alternate Minister of Agricultural Development and Food ÁÑ ×É ÓÕ ÍÔÁ ÊÔÇÓ - ÓÕ ÍÔÏ ÍÉ ÓÔÇÓ ÅÊ ÄÏ ÓÇÓ: Èï äù ñÞò Âáì âá êÜ ñçò 20. Trade is an engine for social and ÓÕÌÂÏÕËÏÓ ÅÊÄÏÓÇÓ: economic prosperity and growth. ÃéÜííçò ÔñéÞñçò By Nikolaos Chountis, Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs ÖÙÔÏÃÑÁÖÉÅÓ: Êþóôáò Ëáêáöþóçò Ιάκωβος Χατζησταύρου Φωτογραφία εξωφύλλου: ΓΕΦΥΡΑ Α.Ε. / Νίκος Δανιηλίδης ÌÅ ÔÁ ÖÑÁ ÓÇ: Íß êïò Ñïýó óïò ÄÇÌÉÏÕÑÃÉÊÏ - ÇËÅÊÔÑÏÍÉÊÇ ÓÅËÉÄÏÐÏÉÇÓÇ: ÁËÖÁ - ÙÌÅÃÁ ÅÊÄÏÓÅÉÓ ÅÐÅ ÖéëéêÞò Åôáéñåßáò 80 ×áëÜíäñé, ôçë 210 6841889 Creative Art Director: Μανώλη Ευαγγελία ÅÊÔÕÐÙÓÇ: Khartan Holding Limited Tradecontents with Greece 22. Our main goal is to revive the Greek econo- 72. Innovation in Greece: An insoluble equation, my. in a country that can and must change. By Euclid Tsakalotos, Alternate Minister for By Dimitris Markopoulos International Economic Relations 78. The National Cadastre — A fundamental 24. The contribution of Hellenic Armed Forces to project for Greece. security and the establishment of peace. By Panayotis Efthimiades By Kostas Isichos, Alternate Foreign Minister of National Defence 84. The present and future of Greek exports. By Evi Papadosifakis 26. Macedonia-Thrace: an historical crossroads of investment, culture, trade and tourism. 93. Athens Startup Business Incubator By Maria Kollia-Tsaroucha, Deputy Minister for Macedonia-Thrace ENERGY 28. The productive reconstruction of Greece. 102. The new energy policy. By Panagiotis Sgouridis, Deputy Minister of By Christos Colonas Rural Development TOURISM ECONOMY 110. Greek Tourism: the outstanding year 2014. 34. The prospects of the Greek economy in 2015. By Leonidas Tsaoulas By Dimitris Christoulias CULTURE 42. Privatizations: On hold till June. 118. 60 Years of the Athens Festival. By Sophia Dimtsa By Nicoleta Makri 47. There is a dire need to support SMEs, the backbone of the economy. STATISTICS By Yannis Kanoupakis 129. By Anna Diana 54. Dimitris Avramopoulos: “Our biggest concern is the rise of racism and xenophobia, fuelled by populist movements across Europe.” By Dimitris Giannakopoulos 60. Banks: In the maelstrom of political developments. By Nectarios Notis 66. Ocean-going shipping — Always dynamic and extrovert. By Ilias Iliopoulos ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT “ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS” March 28th, 2001 marked the onset of a new era for air transport in Greece, with the opening of the Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”, which contributed to the transformation of the capital with one of the most modern, functional and safest airports in the world. Athens International Airport S.A. (AIA) was established in assets, conducts largescale commercial activities and exports 1996 as a PublicPrivate Partnership with a 30year B.O.O.T. the company’s pioneering knowhow in the IT sector.