Licensing simplification, strengthening industry and logistics, digital business environment and strong controls for investment in the government’s new development plan.
The Greek economy is entering a trajectory of profound change, with Takis Theodoricakos presenting the new final draft of the Ministry of Development aimed at productive transformation and attracting investment. With a focus on speeding up processes, reducing administrative burdens and moving to a fully digital framework for operations, Theodoricakos emphasizes upgrading industry, strengthening logistics and supporting healthy entrepreneurship. At the same time, transparency and strict control mechanisms are being introduced, shaping a more stable and competitive investment environment that aspires to create new growth and employment prospects.
The productive transformation of the Greek economy is a national objective and we are serving it, Development Minister Takis Theodoricakos said during the discussion of the bill on the simplification of procedures and the support of business.
The provisions
“Everything included in the bill serves the strategy of the productive transformation of the Greek economy, which is a national need,” said Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos, noting that this strategy is of critical importance especially today in the conditions of great geopolitical instability. “It is necessary to have a strong and competitive economy, which is able to cope with the social needs and economic prospects of the country with relative autonomy, so that the country and Hellenism can be viable in such difficult and dangerous conditions. All this means more productive investment, stronger Greek industry, a modern primary sector that feeds manufacturing, more innovation and of course even more and better jobs,” the Development Minister said.
Mr Theodorikakos referred to the main pillars of the bill with emphasis on the provisions for simplification in the reception of investments, the modernization and upgrading of industry, upgrading the role of logistics, licensing, popular markets, products made in Greece. “Investors will come to a point, whether they are Greek or foreign. Their proposals will be evaluated within a specific timeframe. The give-and-take service has proven not to be effective. I told you, in the development law, that there would be a 90-day evaluation of projects and that is what happened. What we say we do. The same will happen again now,” Theodoricakos said. At the same time, he reiterated that those who received money for investments that did not take place will be returned to the public treasury, one for one euro and interest-free, while they will not have the right to participate in the development law again, because it is a matter of honour and equality, not only towards entrepreneurs, but also towards citizens. The same will happen for anyone who violates the labor law.
-The bill takes care of the modernization and upgrading of the industry, especially in Attica where many plants are concentrated. The modernization of existing manufacturing units, when their activity and environmental category is not changed, will proceed with a simple affidavit, with no unnecessary approvals required and no bureaucratic delays, he said.
-After 70 years of the anachronistic existence of the paper industrial movement form, it is coming to an end and is being replaced with the Digital Business Activity Form, a simple digital tool with many interconnectivity features, where data will be declared once and utilized where needed by the government.
-In the context of the productive transformation of the Greek economy, the role of logistics is upgraded, in a way that strengthens Greece’s position as a supply chain hub in SE Europe. Interventions such as the adjustment of the building conditions for specific logistics facilities in order to develop high quality infrastructure that meets the needs of the modern supply chain are being made.
-The procedures for establishing and operating businesses are now moving to the single digital environment, through open business, with clear rules, specific deadlines and a clear framework of sanctions. The basic principles, as the minister stressed, are less bureaucracy, more transparency, more responsibility.
-After substantial cooperation with the world of farmers’ markets, producers and professionals are facilitated, regulations for transparency and healthy competition are introduced. The ministry, with legislative improvements, adopts a number of proposals that have been submitted in the context of the debate that had been held in the parliamentary committee. Also, the possibility for the local government to decide and do so and farmers’ markets only for producers is institutionalized, so that there is no intermediary between the farmer and the consumer.
-For the protection and promotion of products made in Greece, an integrated framework for the protection of geographical indications for handicraft and industrial products is introduced, with the incorporation of the relevant European Regulation. In this way, the concept of certification is extended beyond food and agricultural products to a euro range of Greek production, which until now has remained unprotected.
The bill synthesizes needs with economic objectives
As the dialogue and consultation at the drafting stage of the bill lasted eight months, the Development Minister was quick to stress the “importance of the culture of dialogue” with society, to which the government is listening and showing a willingness to synthesize, he said. “This is a bill that synthesizes needs with economic goals and advances the cause of the productive transformation of the Greek economy, which is a national stake,” Theodoricakos said.
During the debate, the opposition also criticized the provisions concerning the safety and health inspection of workers. New Left parliamentary representative Nassos Iliopoulos accused the government of essentially outsourcing it to private individuals and changing the fines provided.
The framework legislated in 2018 is no different from the current one in terms of inspections and the presence of private individuals, the minister replied, stressing that “the public responsibility in the system of labour inspections is not changed in substance.”
