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New business start up law promises swiftness

A new law simplifying procedure for starting new businesses has been a re-structural target of the government since it took over a year and a half ago, was presented by the prime minister, on Monday.

“With few words and plenty of action we are toning in for growth development through business”, said Antonis Samaras at an official press conference. He added that the government's plan is for a new regulatory framework to be ready by relevant ministries in a few months.

This being an unofficial campaign period, the PM tried to score extra political points by indirectly accusing the opposition's ideas on growth. “Lowering unemployment is not done through wishful thinking”, he pointed out. “Supporting business is the main precondition for increasing employment”.

The new framework for business licenses will make licenses easier for all new business, including a wide variety of activities, (industrial, mining, aquaculture, port infrastructure, tourist development etc.). For the first time, the prime minister said, license approval will be conducted by a “small shop”.

The prospective businessman will be starting out with a simple affirmation, assuming the responsibility for the legality of the procedure personally. For reasons of shortening procedure, state checks of the business function will be taking place after it receives its license. License transaction will be completed within the day, said Mr. Samaras.

If all that turns out to be so, it will definitely be a huge blow to bureaucracy, a plague for any business or transaction in the modern Greek state for the past 40 years. Since there is no lack of non applicable laws in this country, all this remains to be seen in action.