On December 9th, Capital Link hosted in New York City the 26th Annual Capital Link Invest in Greece Forum entitled ‘Greece – Speeding Ahead Post Investment Upgrade’ with the aim at enhancing the business and investment ties between the United States and Greece. Another objective was to raise the profile of Greece as a business and investment destination to a global audience.
This forum was an excellent opportunity to highlight the good moment to invest in Greece and to talk about the opportunities and incentives for international investors. We wouldn’t exaggerate if we said that the prospects for investment, both domestic and international, in sectors of the Greek economy are more than promising. Over the last years, the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis has restored the investment climate after strenuous efforts and has sent strong messages that the country is now receptive to investment. Clearly, the structural changes that have taken place during the last five years have contributed to the reform of the investment climate, but today it is necessary to accelerate the already planned ones, for further improvement, but also to start a good-faith dialogue with the business community, which knows better than anyone the needs of the country’s economic reality.
The Piraeus Chamber of Commerce & Industry supports a dynamic framework for development based on the three key-factors: energy, exports and investments. The Chamber has recently submitted a memorandum that focuses on issues related to the development of industrial parks, energy and employment, noting that the manufacturing sector can become the bridge for young people to return to our homeland, to stay in their place, thus facing the demographic threat. We want investments that increase the productivity and competitiveness of the Greek economy, and these can be “placed” within the industrial parks.
The export sector is also receptive to investment. The promotion of business partnerships, through a policy that the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce & Industry supports, can highlight investment targets in markets where competition is sometimes judged by the largest business and operational sizes that have the ability and the means to enter markets successfully. Towards this direction, cooperation with institutional bodies and the business community is particularly important, as it is the one to have the valuable knowledge of the market and its needs.
I would also highlight the need to create a strong image for the country’s products and services in international markets, focusing on quality, innovation and sustainability, supporting the creation of trade networks and partnerships and encouraging businesses to seek for trade partners and participate in international exhibitions. Our Chamber participated successfully in two exhibitions in China as well as in special exhibitions with the dual aim of supporting Greek businesses and sending a strong message for investments in the Greek economy.
Finally, I will keep up repeating that both in Piraeus and in the wider Piraeus area, we must accelerate investments in maritime innovation. Today, if we want to maintain the dynamic of entrepreneurship, depicted as growing by the irrefutable numbers in Piraeus, we must turn towards the sea and get the most out of the positive momentum. We must deal with the waves successfully, in a period where the international economy’s “ocean” is agitated by geopolitical storms. The shipbuilding sector was the beginning. A good beginning.
Article written by Mr. Vassilis Korkidis, President of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce & Industry.