The need for a coherent, long-term strategy to change productive model of the country, aiming at the creation of greater added value, underlined the Giannis Bratakos.

As the President of ECEA at the Delphi Economic Forum, the Greek economy has shown that it has resilience, even in a highly unstable international environment, characterised by intense geopolitical turbulence, such as the war in Ukraine and the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. These developments add to uncertainty and increase the cost to the economy, through factors such as high energy costs and increased insurance premiums in shipping, ultimately affecting the competitiveness of firms.

Bratakos pointed out that despite the difficulties, entrepreneurship in Greece has proven over time that it can support the economy and act as a key pillar of growth. However, he stressed that the continuation of this course requires substantial changes in the way the country develops.

“We cannot speak in general and vague terms about a change in the production model. We need to lay the foundations today, with specific policies and investments, which will pay off in a long time,” he said.

He made special reference to tourism, noting that it is one of the key pillars of the economy, but a shift is needed from a model based mainly on visitor volume to one that creates greater value. As he said, the aim should be quality upgrading of the tourism product, longer tourist season and better geographical distribution of tourist activity.

At the same time, he stressed that Greece must strengthen its productive base, emphasizing industry, innovation and new technologies. He noted that the country lags behind other European economies, while Europe as a whole lags behind other global players, making the need to accelerate reforms even more urgent.

The President of the Chamber also highlighted the importance of integration of artificial intelligence and new technologies in business operations, noting that systematic information and support for businesses is required in order to exploit the new possibilities.

He particularly stressed the importance of political and economic stability, as a key prerequisite for attracting investment. “Without stability, no investment can be safely planned and implemented,” he noted, stressing that investment requires a clear and predictable environment.

Bratakos concluded by stressing that despite the significant progress made in recent years, the country still has a significant road ahead. As he stressed, the acceleration of reforms, the strengthening of the productive base and the formation of a stable and reliable environment are critical conditions for the sustainable growth of the Greek economy.