Direct link between government and industrialists

The two sides met during a meeting chaired by Prime Mininister Antonis Samaras with the president of the Federation of Hellenic Enterprises Theodoros Fessas and the government ministers of Finance, Development, Labor, Environment and State.

According to sources, the Federation expressed satisfaction over progress made in the Greek economy and the restoring of fiscal balance while it expressed the will to contribute in effort to restarting the economy. Government sources said there was an exchange of views on a number of significant issues, particularly liquidity, competition, taxation, energy issues, capital mobilization, tax-evasion, tax reforms, simplifying procedures, innovation, dealing to informal labor and energy cost.

Development Minister Nikos Dendias, speaking to reporters, after the meeting, said that industrial growth was a significant strategic aim for the government to rise from 9% of GDP to 14% of GDP. The meeting also focused on ways to boost new enterprises, while on the issue of non-performing loans, Dendias said the government will present a draft text over the next few days to resolve the problem.

“The economy is showing signs of growth offering hope of more investments. The message from the private sector is optimistic,” Theodoros Fessas told reporters, after the meeting. On non-performing loans, Fessas said there will be a legislative initiative by Development ministry with the aim to avoid creating a moral hazard. Labour Minister Yiannis Vroutsis left the door open for another cut in social insurance contributions by 1-1.5% this year.