THESSALONIKI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY Presentation to

THESSALONIKI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY Presentation to students of the Angelo State University, Texas, USA Giorgos Emmanouilidis TCCI, Studies and Research department Thessaloniki CCI Thessaloniki, 28 th May 2012

EUROPE

GREECE – CENTRAL MACEDONIA

REGIONAL UNIT OF THESSALONIKI Ø Population: 1. 144. 052 (2008) Ø 10, 2% of country’s population Ø GDP: 19. 449. 000 € Ø 9, 1% of Greek G. D. P. - 2 nd in Greece Ø GDP per capita 17. 245 €, 90, 2% of national average Ø G. D. P. composition: 1, 8% agriculture, 27, 6% Industry and 70, 6% Services

THESSALONIKI INFRASTRUCTURES Ø The 2 nd biggest port in Greece, including a free zone area, a container terminal, railway infrastructure etc. Ø The largest organized industrial area of the country. Ø The biggest International Trade Fair in the Balkans. Ø Three internationally recognized Universities – over 100, 000 students (Aristotle University - University of Macedonia – International Hellenic University). Ø The Alexandreion Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki. Ø The Center for Research and Technology Hellas.

E. U. AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS LOCATED IN THESSALONIKI Ø The European Center for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) Ø The Black Sea Trade Development Bank Ø The Private Sector Liaison Office of the World Bank Group (hosted by the TCCI) Ø The Euro Info Center

THESSALONIKI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

TCCI PROFILE Ø TCCI was established in 1918 and began to operate in 1919 Ø It’s a Public Authority and the 2 nd most significant Chamber in Greece Ø Approximately 20, 000 commercial firms and industries are registered in TCCI (registration is compulsory according to the law) Ø 20 employees

TCCI PROFILE Ø TCCI task is to develop and promote all economic activities and in particular commerce and industry in the Regional Unit of Thessaloniki and the wider area of Central Macedonia and Northern Greece. Ø TCCI is an official advisor to the Government on issues related to the activities of the companies located in the Regional Unit of Thessaloniki and also in matters related to the overall economic growth of the area.

TCCI ADMINISTRATION Ø The TCCI Board of Directors is elected every 4 years and comprises 61 members. The board also elects 4 honorary members, while 10 additional members are appointed by law. Ø The board elects an administrative committee with 5 members, responsible for most of the everyday decision making, the representation of TCCI in missions, conferences, meetings etc.

TCCI NETWORK The TCCI participates in: Ø Ø Ø Ø the International Chamber of Commerce the Eurochambres the Centre of International and European Economic Law the Association of Balkan Chambers The Arab - Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry The Union of Hellenic Chambers of Commerce and Industry the Hellenic External Trade Organization

TCCI NETWORK Ø Ø Ø Ø the Greek Export Council the Regional Council of Central Macedonia the Regional Fund for the Development of Central Macedonia the Society for the development of private infrastructures in Northern Greece the Hellenic Network for Corporate Social Responsibility The Hellenic Chambers Transport Association The Chamber Group for the Development of the Greek Islands

TCCI SERVICES TCCI Provides its members with: ØRegistration, certificates cancellation and company’s history ØCertificates of origin ØAuthentification of the genuine / identical signature of the companies’ representatives TCCI provides an one – stop – shop service for the creation of new enterprises TCCI provides a General Commercial Registry service for its members

TCCI SERVICES TCCI provides its members and other Greek companies with information concerning: ØMembers’ registry (companies’ info by sector) ØExisting legislation concerning business activities (Investment incentives Law, Labor Law etc. ) ØInternational tenders ØBusiness opportunities in other countries ØCustoms and tax issues ØFunding opportunities via National Strategic Reference Framework or European Calls ØForeign countries’ economies (macroeconomic data, market research, business guides etc. ) ØConferences and fora of business interest organized in Greece and abroad

TCCI SERVICES TCCI provides foreign companies with information concerning: Members’ registry Ø Thessaloniki exporters registry Ø Existing legislation concerning the setting up of a business organization in Greece Ø The business environment in Greece (Property and Labor Law, Investment incentives law etc. ) Ø The Chamber also organizes meetings, conferences and lectures on current subjects of business interest

TCCI SERVICES TCCI hosts the Private Sector Liaison Office to World Bank in Greece, which aims at expanding cooperation of the Greek private sector with World. Bank Group. the the Through this cooperation, Greek companies can be involved in the procurement programmes for the purchase of goods and services required in WBfinanced projects and Ø Ø have access to financial and technical assistance for the realization of investment projects in emerging or developing economies.

TCCI TRAINING TCCI organizes training seminars for entrepreneurs, company executives and employees in subjects such as: Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Communication, marketing and sales Negotiation techniques Management of SMEs Business planning E- commerce, applied informatics and networks Export marketing Introduction to accounting Basic Knowledge of Italian and Spanish Language Occupational Health and Safety

TCCI TRAINING More precisely, the TCCI provides every year: A session of vocational training seminars for employees of its member enterprises (only Small Enterprises up to 25 employees), programme LAEK 1 -25 of the Greek Employment Organisation (OAED). 1. 408 employees have been trained since 2005, 256 only in 2012. Ø A session of seminars addressed to enterpreneurs and business executives. More than 3. 000 persons have been trained since 1999. Ø A session of Occupational Health and Safety seminars for employers who desire to perform the role of Safety Expert of their enterprise. 747 employers have been trained since 2001. Ø Other specialised seminars of business interest, in cooperation with highly qualified trainers Ø

TCCI ACTIVITIES Ø TCCI participates in official State missions abroad aiming at the promotion of the Greek economy and the attraction of foreign direct investments. Ø Organizes business missions abroad with full support to its members (organization of private meetings, secretarial services, interpretation etc). Ø Receives foreign premises. Ø Participates in international fairs in Greece and abroad and supports financially member enterprises that also wish to participate. business delegations at its

TCCI PARTICIPATION IN EU PROGRAMMES Ø In collaboration with other organizations from Greece and abroad, TCCI implements projects aiming at the development of the Thessaloniki area, the enhancement of the competitiveness of its members enterprises and the improvement of its services. Ø Furthermore, TCCI considers its participation in projects realised in the framework of EU programs, an opportunity for European cooperation and networking, not only with other Chambers, but also with a variety of organisations like institutes, academia, public bodies, NGOs etc.

TCCI PARTICIPATION IN EU PROGRAMMES Ø As a result, the TCCI has participated in the preparation and submission of a number of different proposals in the framework of Calls of European programs, like Interreg, Objective 3, Lifelong Learning Program, EU enlargement, Intelligent Energy Europe et al. Ø Various projects have been implemented since 2004 and others are being actually implemented, while project proposals are constantly submitted in the framework of current Programme Calls

TCCI PARTICIPATION IN EU PROGRAMMES Actually the TCCI participates as partner in the implementation of 5 EU projects: Ø Project “WIDE - Growing of SMEs: organizational Innovation and Development in MED area”, programme MED. WIDE aims at strengthening Micro/SMEs innovation capacities, through strategic cooperation between MED public and private actors. Ø Project “LOSAMEDCHEM - How could the logistics and the safety of the transport of chemicals be improved in the Mediterranean area”, programme MED. LOSAMEDCHEM aims at promoting environment friendly transport of chemicals in the Mediterranean region.

TCCI PARTICIPATION IN EU PROGRAMMES Ø Project “EGNATIA VAE - Cross Border Vertical Axes of Entrepreneurship in support Youth and Women”, programme Greece - Bulgaria 2007 - 2013. The main project’s objective is the support and promotion of entrepreneurship in the cross - border regions adjacent to the Egnatia Motorway vertical axes. Ø Project “ELIE - Employability: Learning through International Entrepreneurship”, Life Long Learning Programme ERASMUS. ELIE’s aim is the development and piloting of a Learning Framework that facilitates Employability and Entrepreneurship in a Cross - Cultural Environment

TCCI PARTICIPATION IN EU PROGRAMMES Ø Project “VALO - ECQA Valorisation Expert Training and Certification”, programme Life Long Learning Programme Leonardo Da Vinci. The general aims and objectives of the project are to create a new certified Valorisation Expert profession, added to the 18 existing certifications of the European Certification and Qualification Association (ECQA).

TCCI COMMUNICATION TOOLS Ø The web site of TCCI: www. tcci. gr, which covers a wide range of issues of immediate business interest Ø The trimonthly bulletin sent to members Ø Frequent group fax and communications to its members e-mail

GREEK EXTERNAL TRADE EXPORTS Ø Value of Greek exports in 2011: 22, 451, 020, 103€ Ø Importance in the Greek GDP: 10. 44% Ø Significant growth of exports in 2011, of 38% Ø The growth was due to the increase of competitiveness of Greek products, thanks to the reduction of their prices, but also thanks to the turn of more Greek enterprises to extroverty. Ø Exports to the EU represent 51% of the total. Ø Main exported products are foods and beverages, industrial products, oil products, chemicals.

GREEK EXTERNAL TRADE EXPORTS MAIN COMMERCIAL PARTNERS % ITALY 9% GERMANY 8% TURKEY 8% CYPRUS 6% BULGARIA 6% USA 5% UK 4% FRANCE 3%

GREEK EXTERNAL TRADE IMPORTS Ø Value of Greek imports in 2011: 43, 272, 609, 226€ Ø Decrease of imports in 2011, of 9. 3% Ø The decrease was due to the restrictive economic policy applied in Greece as a result of the severe financial crisis. Ø Imports from the EU represent 54% of the total. Ø Main imported products are machinery, vehicles, fossil fuels, chemicals and foods.

GREEK EXTERNAL TRADE IMPORTS MAIN COMMERCIAL PARTNERS % GERMANY 11% ITALY 9% RUSSIA 9% CHINA 6% FRANCE 5% HOLLAND 5% UK 3% USA 2%

GREEK EXTERNAL TRADE BALANCE Amounts in million € 2011 2010 2009 EXPORTS 22, 451 16, 248 14, 392 IMPORTS 43, 273 47, 721 48, 087 TRADE BALANCE -20, 822 -31, 473 -33, 965

Thank you for your attention !