Hellenic Federation of Enterprises

High tax rates and the combination of corruption with a lack of transparency top the list of the most important obstacles to entrepreneurship in Greece, according to a survey conducted by MRB for the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV). The corruption and insufficient transparency combo has risen from the fifth most significant obstacle last year to the second in 2018.

Liquidity in Greece needs to be strengthened by the inflow of capital from abroad - amounting to some 20 billion euros per year - as domestic savings will not suffice, the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) warns in its weekly bulletin.

Greece's post-bailout recovery will require "a greater sense of responsibility" from the country's political leadership than that exhibited during the adjustment period of the last eight years, as Greece will lose the financial safety net provided by its creditors, the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) said on Thursday.

The Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) on Thursday identified four priorities for the strengthening of manufacturing in Greece, according to its weekly bulletin.

In an extraordinary press conference on Tuesday the head of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), Theodoros Fessas, responded to an attack from Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras a day earlier, accusing the government of saying different things to different people, undoing reforms and a policy of polarization.

The Greek government legislates in a way that discourages investors, the head of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) said on Tuesday, during a press conference on a draft bill that he said will increase the cost for businesses that hire contractors.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras took a swipe at the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) Monday for "trying to intervene in the public debate" about the measures in 2019-20 that Greece must implement, including pension cuts.

Speaking at a meeting of northern Greek industrialists, he said it was "unclear which forces [SEV] actually represents."
 

The prospects of social prosperity remain limited as the country is on a low growth course due to insufficient investments, the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) warns in its weekly bulletin. It also says the government should not go back on its austerity pledges, although households had to dig deep into their savings again last year.

Following the Eurogroup's debt relief decision, priority must now be given to growth, along with sticking to reform implementation and responsible fiscal management, according to the head of Greece's industrialists, Theodoros Fessas, who also warns against a return to the bad habits of the past.

In the next five years Greece could become a field of growth for 2,100 startups, which could lead to the creation of 20,000 new jobs and reverse brain drain, according to the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), provided that the country implements specific reform policies and introduces incentives for the development of ecosystems for new enterprises.