Greece's Ministry of National Economy and Finance published remarks by Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis in Thessaloniki marking the centenary of the Thessaloniki Artisan Chamber, setting out priorities to support artisans and small and medium-sized enterprises in Northern Greece. The address framed policy focus around improving competitiveness, liquidity and growth capacity, including higher financing flows through banks and public and EU development programmes, closer links between firms and vocational education and training, and incentives for business cooperation and mergers. The speech cited Central Macedonia’s role in the economy, including 15.6% of Greek exports and 14.2% of national investment, more than 10,000 new salaried jobs created in 2023, and over 8,000 projects under the ESIF programme with a budget exceeding EUR 5.6bn. It also pointed to Greek Development Bank lending of 74,158 loans to businesses, including 54,000 to firms with fewer than 50 employees, and highlighted improved fiscal indicators including a 4.8% primary surplus in 2024, alongside projections in the 2026 draft budget for investment rising to 18% of GDP from 11% in 2019 and exports at 42% of GDP versus 20% in 2008. Pierrakakis referenced a tax reform package announced by the Prime Minister at the Thessaloniki International Fair and recently passed by Parliament, sized at EUR 1.76bn in the first year of implementation and EUR 2.5bn in the second, and linked these priorities to the European Union’s new fiscal framework and broader EU discussions on reducing internal market barriers.

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