The new landscape formed for Greek trade with new technologies and geopolitical rearrangements as well as the government’s initiatives to support small and medium -sized enterprises, which have been implemented and those planned by the Vice President of the Government tonight. Kostis Hatzidakis.
Speaking at the anniversary event organized by the Hellenic Confederation of Trade and Entrepreneurship on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Greek Trade Day, on “The Greek Trade: Look In the Future”, Mr. Hatzidakis emphasized that the Government, but the government supported the government. “At the same time,” he added, “we are enhancing social cohesion and income. With interventions to limit the cost of everyday life, such as those announced at the TIF and last April, with housing support policies and significant health and education investments. So that the consumer has a real purchasing power, and can support domestic trade on a fixed basis. “
The Deputy Prime Minister also stressed that the rearrangement of international trade due to geopolitical tensions and shock in global supply chains is in a advantage. “At the crossroads of three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa, with very important infrastructure, our country is becoming a strategic hub of regional and international range. This strategy includes upgrading the infrastructure (ports, airports, roads, freight centers), facilitating freight with customs upgrading and shielding supply chains from all kinds of risks. “
Presenting the support initiatives, he noted that they led to the creation of an additional 35,500 small and medium -sized enterprises from 2019 to 2024 and to an increase of 253,000 employees. These initiatives include:
1. The 83 tax cuts and contributions made from 2019 until today. “Among them, the reduction in legal income tax from 28% to 22% and the reduction of insurance contributions by 5.4 percentage points. Permanent interventions, which we carry out with our own strengths, not on borrowing. “
2. The limitation of administrative weight and bureaucracy for the establishment of businesses and investments “to be escalated by a bill of the Ministry of Development next time”.
3. The reinforcement of exports, in the context of the integrated national extroversion strategy recently approved.
4. Liquidity and funding tools with resources exceeding 1.5 billion, and are specifically aimed at small and medium -sized enterprises. Between them:
* Action of 200 million from the NSRF to enhance the extroversion of small and medium -sized enterprises,
* NSRF actions to strengthen small and medium -sized enterprises, extroversion and innovation in Attica, Central Macedonia and island areas, with a budget of EUR 300 million,
* NSRF actions for energy upgrading and changing devices for small and medium -sized enterprises with a budget of 281 million euros,
* The TEPIH III tool from the Hellenic Development Bank, which now provides 780 million for favorable loans to the small and medium -sized.
“Additional programs and tools for small and medium -sized enterprises will be activated in the coming years, including the social climate fund,” Mr Hatzidakis still announced.
While referring to the changes brought about by new technologies, and especially artificial intelligence in trade, the Deputy Prime Minister noted: “We must form a modern framework that will favor the utilization of this technology for modernization of trade, the personalization of service. But with doubles so that businesses do not violate the rights of the consumer and citizen. ” He added that technology multiplies opportunities for the small and middle business while the state has significant resources from the NSRF and the recovery fund for the digital transition of small and medium -sized enterprises and the development of digital skills of domestic human resources.
“In the new trade model the natural store will remain a reference point for the market and the neighborhood, while the digital channels will be the” window “in the world,” Mr Hatzidakis said. “Small and medium -sized enterprises will cooperate closer, consumer deliveries will be more rapid, and lower costs, Greek products will be sufficiently displayed, human resources will constantly upgrade its skills,” he concluded.