Industrialists’ Front, the Hatzidakis “drama”, the “dust” of Ekaterinari, the sadness at MEVGAL, the “chemical” meeting in Athens, the receipts of Epilectos – Economic Postman –

Table of Contents

• 1 “Forgotten”
• 2 On the defensive…
• 3 The obvious…
• 4 The power in the union…
• 5 The mystery with the “dust” of Ekaterinari
• 6 Affliction…
• 7 Export orientation…
• 8 “nuisances”
• 9 Incentive policies
• 10 “Practicality”
• 11 “Chemical” Synaxis
• 12 Normally the receipts…
• 13 In the air for the former “Lampropoulos”
• 14 ‍How do transportation issues specifically impact supply chain management‌ for Greek companies? ⁢

The bells are ringing… I don’t know if they hear them there at Maximos. Once again, the “big” entrepreneurs of Greece sounded the alarm about the wrong direction of the government’s policy (and not only this one) for the productive reconstruction of the country.

After the general assembly of the BSE, there was also a conference of the Hellenic Union of Businessmen (EENE), where the speech of Michalis Stassinopoulos received a fair amount of criticism.

“Forgotten”

It is worth studying how a country in the western world has ignored so many key pillars of the economy. This is my observation, as a follow-up to what Mr. Stasinopoulos said, that is, we have a bunch of Ministries… but we don’t have a Ministry for Industry.

Of course, there are many proposals from the business world. But for some reason, the most “investment-friendly” post-colonial government, as many have labeled it, isn’t listening (?).

As with the Draghi report… he submitted it to the European Commission, but nobody touches it!

——————————–

On the defensive…

With these and with these again the Minister of Finance, K. Hatzidakis, entered a position of defense. At the same event, he cited numbers to show that it is “a myth that Greece has allegedly been completely deindustrialized.”

He said about the new tax bill that is under consultation, about the robust banking system, about the training of workers…
But he didn’t say about infrastructure…

The obvious…

Because Agis Pistiolas of AGRINO came to the same event, and told him that not only is there no proper connection between VIPE and the city of Thessaloniki, but even the workers cannot go to their jobs in the area…

“There is no possibility for the workers to even go to the BIP… what kind of industrial policy are we talking about,” he said characteristically.

The power in the union…

Beyond the criticism, however, Mr. Pistiolas, who is also the president of the “GREECE-OURS” initiative, showed the way to strengthen the export orientation of Greek businesses.

He specifically mentioned the case of the promotional action taking place in one of the largest stores of the Leclerc chain in Paris, until November 17, which has generated over 120 million turnover.

“It shows we have to work together,” Mr Pistiolas said.

—————————-

The mystery with the “dust” of Ekaterinari

However, in addition to the positions, the mystery with the note that was given to Mrs. Rania Aikaterinari also caused an impression. First it went to Mrs. Hatzakou, of MEVGAL, but she herself gave it to the vice-president and president of the Executive Committee of the BSE.

I have not yet clarified whether it was an official “intervention” by the head of the BSE, Spyros Theodoropoulos, but he was explaining the problem of the nature of investments in technological equipment.

That is to say, the obvious, that in 3 years investments in technology depreciate. “They are being upgraded so quickly that the payback of investments is affected.”

——————————-

Affliction…

MEVGAL employees were saddened by the announcement of the loss of Dimitris Simeonidis.

After all, he was also its administrative leader for a long time, when the main shareholders were besieged and had to decide whether to sell the company to DELTA.

Until the last moment, however, he went to his office and followed the events of the company.

Symeonides especially loved Constantinople, his place of origin, which we learn he visited often.

Export orientation…

However, in this difficult environment, the positive thing is that MEVGAL is also investing in the yogurt production line. Mrs. Hatzakou also revealed it as the next step with the completion of the feta production line.

The goal is international markets.

—————————–

“nuisances”

However, not only the financial staff has been on the defensive lately. But also the Transport and Infrastructure staff.

Apart from the known issues with public transport, I learn that the leadership is also besieged by known importers of heavy vehicles into the country.
And truth be told, most of the fleet of trucks in the country are… carnivores.

They are cars that were bought before the crisis, or they have many kilometers on their “backs” since they are imported used cars.

It was an easy solution, after all, since when they go through customs it’s like they have zero kilometers.

Incentive policies

A well-known businessman, I learn, is asking the competent Ministry to create incentives for the renewal of fleets.
It’s a key pillar for a road-based economy… but so far I don’t see the decisions being accelerated.

———————————-

“Practicality”

I would recommend that he put the requests anyway to Alexis Patelis, who stated that at Maximos they are “practical people”.

He was referring, of course, to the fact that there will be improvements in the incentives for closed apartments and for those whose use is converted into a long-term lease, from a short-term one.

After all, POMIDA has also requested that some changes be made to the tax exemption for the properties in question.

I am learning that the time-condition for the closed property will be reduced from 3 years to 2 years.

In addition to the real estate purchase, however, Mr. Patelis assured that electricity subsidies may return if the wholesale price rally continues.

——————–

“Chemical” Synaxis

We have an autumn meeting of big companies starting this morning in Athens, as all the big bosses of the global chemical industries are in Greece for the annual General Assembly of their European association.

In fact, the heads of the American Dow and the German BASF and Bayer, with the Greek president of the association, will also visit Maximos.

It is estimated that the total capitalization of the companies that will be located in Greece exceeds 1 trillion. with over 1 million employees.

————————

Normally the receipts…

I was writing to you about the contacts that Epilectos has with international houses, in order to supply Greek cotton.

And the company may have a lot of problems, but I learned that they will receive cotton normally again this year.

In fact, cotton prices are at the same levels as last year.

All good on that front.

But not in the energy costs, for which Mr. Dontas is… furious.

—————————–

In the air for the former “Lampropoulos”

Not just stagnation, but absolute indifference prevails in the case of remodeling the property in Omonia that housed the former “Lampropoulos”.

The long-awaited meeting between the heads of Dimand and Notos focusing on the future of the project has not even taken place.

I remind you that Notos Com, which leases the space under Michalis Papaellinas, has declared to Dimitris Andriopoulos of Dimand that it is categorically against the changes being considered.

And this is because it is a key asset in the effort undertaken by Notos for complete consolidation and a return to normality. Especially now that the… ship seems to have turned for good.