The steady, outward-looking progress made by the Greek chemical industry in recent years, its strengths as well as the challenges it faces in a rapidly changing international environment, were the focus of the event organized by the Hellenic Chemical Industry Association (SEHV) on June 2 at the War Museum in Athens.
The event, organized as part of the HECI’s annual General Assembly, was honored by the presence of representatives from the political and business worlds, as well as the academic community, thus highlighting the important role the sector plays as “mother of all industries” in the Greek manufacturing ecosystem.
As noted in the relevant announcement, this approach was explained to attendees by the president of the Hellenic Steel Association, Alexandros Katraouzos, to the attendees, emphasizing that the Board’s primary concern is competitiveness and strengthening the Greek chemical industry’s footprint on a European scale, with a key focus on increasing exports.
At a time when the sector is experiencing a downturn in Europe, “we are swimming against the tide,” Mr. Katraouzos noted, though he also spoke of the risks posed by the new military conflict in the Persian Gulf. However, he emphasized, “looking at the big picture through the lens of history and geopolitics, I see a unique opportunity, starting with the chemical industry, to strengthen our country as a whole by leveraging our comparative advantages and climbing the ranks in the internationalcompetitiveness.”
A prerequisite, of course, is to leverage today’s tools of technology, science, and accumulated know-how, emphasized the president of the Hellenic Chemical Industry Association (SEXB), explaining that “With an updated mapping of supply-and-demand needs at the national and European levels, Greece can gain market share primarily at the expense of third countries, capitalize on the capacity gap that has emerged in Western European countries, as well as the security vacuum in the Middle East.”
He even placed these goals within a broader context: “to demonstrate how we can grow our economy through chemicals and human chemistry to bring greater prosperity to society in a spirit of cooperation between businesses, organizations, and the state.”