On Sunday, June 7, the President of HELLENIC PRODUCTION, Mr. Michalis Stassinopoulos, and Chairman of Viohalco S.A. participated in a discussion during the General Assembly of the Association of Enterprises and Industries of the Peloponnese & Western Greece in Rio, Achaea.
Also participating in the discussion were Mr. Spyros Theodoropoulos, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SEV and Chairman and CEO of BESPOKE SGA HOLDINGS S.A., Mr. Nikos Vettas, General Director of the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) and Professor at the Athens University of Economics and Business, as well as Mr. Kleomenis Barlos, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV).
During the discussion, Mr. Stasinopoulos cited as indicative examples of barriers to industrial development the absence of tools for accelerated depreciation—a fact which, as he noted, is perhaps unique among OECD countries— high energy costs, as well as land-use planning issues.
As he emphasized:
“HELLENIC PRODUCTION was founded during a very difficult period, when industry was almost entirely absent from the public discourse. Industry, however, needs a strong ally, and as a key pillar of growth, it should at least have its own Ministry, as is the case with so many other sectors.
Greece needs a stronger industrial sector and a proportionally greater emphasis on it compared to other sectors, as this is where the largest gap lies relative to other European economies. A change in the production model is required, a choice directly linked to the economy’s resilience to crises and to social cohesion.
The fact that Greeks work longer hours than many Europeans, while productivity remains low, should not lead us to become inward-looking or develop complexes. Labor productivity is largely related to productive and industrial infrastructure. A modern production line is essentially a tool that dramatically increases productivity. We need more industrial investment and an institutional framework that attracts and facilitates it.”
Concluding his remarks, Mr. Stasinopoulos emphasized the need for a political and national reorientation that would make industry a priority, so that it can take its rightful place in the public discourse.