The annual General Assembly of the Attica-Piraeus Industries Association ( SBA) sent a strong message regarding the revitalization of Greek industry.
At a time of intense geostrategic uncertainty, Attica’s pivotal role in strengthening the productive base emerged as an indispensable prerequisite for the country’s economic stability and social cohesion.
This year’s Annual General Meeting, which coincided with the celebration of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 75th anniversary, was held on Wednesday, May 20, at the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in the presence of Minister of Development Panagiotis Theodorikakos, Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Nikos Tsafos, Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Kostas Katsafados, the President of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) Spyros Theodoropoulos, and representatives of the Public Administration, Local Government, chambers of commerce and industry, and the business community.
Stavros Theodoropoulos: SBAAP proposals for industry in Attica
In his opening remarks, SBA President Stavros Theodoropoulos focused on Attica, calling ita “captive giant”that, while producing 41% of the national GDP, legislative, spatial planning, and bureaucratic failures prevent it from realizing its development potential and hinder its productivity. “Attica and its productive ecosystem, ” he emphasized, “constitute a key strategic advantage for Greece,” and in order to achieve substantial development, it must be given spatial priority in state policy for the development of manufacturing.
He called for the protection of industrial areas, with particular attention to Attica , in light of the upcoming Spatial Plan for Industry.
He called on the Regional Authority to undertake, in cooperation with industry, the establishment of Management Bodies to implement the necessary infrastructure and to expedite the Business Consolidation Parks, into which waste-to-energy plants can be integrated, with the aim of providing energy for industry.
Referring to the labor shortage, he identified as a top priority the need to implement every measure that will facilitate the integration of women into the economy, as they constitute the largest pool of capable human resources in the country. He highlighted the need for a complete overhaul of technical education, while regarding the recruitment of technical personnel, he proposed focusing on India and establishing an intergovernmental agreement.
Finally, he placed at the top of the SBA’s social agenda the demand to increase the outdated daily limit of 6 euros for workers’ meal expenses.
Panagiotis Theodorikakos: Industry as a Key Player
For his part, Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos stated in his speech that “this government and the Ministry of Development want industry to be a key player, so that our country can transition from stability to productive strength. In recent years, industrial production in our country and employment in the sector have increased by over 20%. We have 3,000 more manufacturing companies. From the moment I took office at the Ministry of Development, we prioritized the agenda for a more productive and competitive economy, with an emphasis on industry, manufacturing, and innovation. Because only an economy that produces, invests, exports, and creates real wealth can be resilient. And only a country with a strong productive base can be truly secure.”
He further noted that the Government supports industry through concrete actions, such as tax cuts, a shift in the focus of the Development Law, and the expedited evaluation of investment plans.
At the same time, he announced that the Special Spatial Plan for Industry will be put out for consultation as soon as possible. “The legislative committee is open to your ideas and suggestions. We want your participation,” the Minister emphasized.
Kostas Katsafados: If we need to do more, we will
The Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Kostas Katsafados, emphasized in his remarks that the expanded presence of government officials at the General Assembly confirms the recognition of the industry’s catalytic role as a key element of national strength and social cohesion.
He stressed the need for ongoing cooperation to further support production, noting that “only through fruitful dialogue can we understand what we have not done and what we need to improve. If we need to do more, we will do it. That is why we are here.”
Spyros Theodoropoulos: SEV-SAP Cooperation
SEV President Spyros Theodoropoulos, speaking positively about the SEV-SVAP collaboration, stated that “it covers all critical issues: regarding energy, we have highlighted, in Greece and Europe, with examples, the catalytic role that energy costs play in Greek industry’s efforts to increase its productivity and competitiveness within a complex international environment”.
He specifically referred to necessary measures for “simplified licensing, safeguarding existing businesses, space for new business parks, and infrastructure that will connect business parks with roads, railways, and ports [and] are essential prerequisites that will strengthen legal certainty, environmental footprint management, and investment, and will enable freight
He emphasized that “furthermore, our attention is now turning to two more critical issues:
First, significant legislative changes are underway in spatial planning for industry as well as for other business activities, such as logistics, mining, and renewable energy. New Special Spatial Planning Frameworks for Tourism, Industry, and renewable energy—and subsequently for Mineral Raw Materials—are expected as milestones of the TAA.
These special spatial plans will provide guidance for the Local Urban Plans currently being drafted, for which studies have already been presented. I am referring to areas such as, among others, Aspropyrgos, Magoula, Fyli, Agios Stefanos, and Kifissia.
The final formulation of these documents, and especially the Special Spatial Plan for Industry and Logistics, will be decisive for the legal certainty of existing businesses throughout Greece and especially in the Athens Metropolitan Area, the potential for developing new business parks, the consolidation of informal industrial zones, and the securing of space for new investments. Highways without exits adjacent to areas with a concentration of businesses or industrial zones, or “new double-track, electrified railway lines that run just a few meters from industrial parks but have no platforms” are not the exception; they are, unfortunately, the rule.”
Specifically in Western Attica, he noted “that there is a ‘difficulty in having the needs of businesses heard in the planning of public transport infrastructure, resulting in congestion in freight transport and increased costs.
For this reason, we have formulated proposals for the government—in the case of Attica, in close collaboration with the Attica Chamber of Commerce—which we are persistently promoting at all levels.
Among other things, we are striving to: to have these projects included in the Ministry of Transport’s National Strategic Infrastructure Plan, which is currently under review, to have them incorporated into Local Development Plans, and specifically for the Region of Attica to recognize the need to propose the relevant projects that fall under its jurisdiction. The SBA has already taken the lead in arranging for the Regional Governor to visit the areas with the greatest immediate need for these projects.
At the same time, we are engaging at the European level, as well as with the Government, to ensure that in the new programming period, the critical projects of interest to us are included in the planning and receive the necessary funding.
“SEV will continue to work closely with both the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) and all companies in this direction,” concluded SEV President Mr. Spyros Theodoropoulos.
Dimitris Mathios: Priority on Investments
In his remarks, Dimitris Mathios, First Vice President of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized that industrial development must be made a priority and called for measures to facilitate investment. He placed particular emphasis on attracting investment capital even from countries facing war-related crises but that have a long-standing desire to cooperate with Greece. Furthermore, he raised the issue of the significant increase in municipal fees recently imposed by municipalities in Attica, which has unexpectedly burdened businesses.
Significant representation
Also in attendance at the annual General Assembly were Eleftherios Kritikos, Secretary General for Industry; Dimitris Anagnostopoulos, Secretary General for Infrastructure; Michalis Livanos, Member of Parliament for Piraeus B; former Secretary General for Innovation and parliamentary candidate Tasos Gaitanis, Deputy Regional Governor for Volunteerism Evgenia Barbagianni, and Vice President of the Athens City Council Christos Tentomas.
Representing the chamber of commerce and business community were Ioannis Bratakos, President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI); Rania Aikaterinari, Vice President of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV); Ioannis Sarakakis, President of the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce; General Director of Hellenic Production Kostas Theos, President of the Piraeus Commercial Association (PCA) and representative of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) Theodoros Kapralos, as well as President of the Union of Enterprises and Industries of Western Attica (EEVIDA) and representative of the Athens Chamber of Small and Medium-Sized Industries (VEA) Ilias Moustairas. The event was further honored by the presence of the President of the Association of Fertilizer Traders and Producers (SPEL), Konstantinos Oreopoulos; the President of the Association of Greek Chemical Industries (SEXB), Alexandros Katraouzos; the Vice President of the Hellenic Plastics Industry Association (SVPE/PSVAK) Charilaos Panopoulos, the President of the “Daidalos” Association of the Ano Liossia Industrial Park, Eleftherios Pantelakis, as well as the Vice President of the Panhellenic Union of Confectionery Industries and Crafts, Nikolaos Kokkos.
Also in attendance were Panagiotis Koutsikos, President of the Greek-Turkish Chamber of Commerce, the Vice President of the Greek-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Tourism, and Shipping (EKEVE), Nikolaos Giannidis, the President of the Greek-Albanian Chamber of Industry, Commercial & Professional Association Panagiotis Roumis, and the representative of the Lavrio Museum of Small-Scale Industry and Education, Dionysis Giannibas, while the Panhellenic Union of Pharmaceutical Industries (PEF), the Association of Shipyard Owners and Shipbuilders’ Employers of Perama, the Union of Artisans and Mechanical Engineers’ Employers of Piraeus, the Association of Shipbuilding Industry Enterprises (SENAVI), as well as the Panhellenic Association of Cosmetics and Perfume Manufacturers and Distributors (PSVAK).