The meeting of Regional Development and Competitiveness Minister Mihalis Chryssohoidis with visiting troika (IMF-ECB-EU) representatives on Monday focused on actions that are being implemented and on initiatives aimed at improving the country's business environment.
Among the issues highlighted by the troika as urgent were the simplification of procedures for business operation licensing currently in the process of being co-signed by the responsible ministries; the implementation of the one-stop-shop service (for new business licensing) no later than April and the establishment of a framework of operation for the Single Authority for Public Contracts which is expected to be ready soon.
Chryssohoidis stressed that the first tenders within the framework of the 2.15-billion-euro new investment law, of which 650 million euros will be subsidies and the remaining amount tax exemptions, will be announced on March 15.
As regards the national brand for Greek exports, he stressed that Greece's presence in foreign markets is being planned by Hellenic Foreign Trade Board (HEPO), Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) and Invest in Greece representatives.
The price reduction agreement will be implemented in all sectors, Chryssohoidis stressed while the effort to eradicate monopolies in the Greek market continues. A relevant draft law aimed at reforming the Competition Commission will be submitted to Parliament next week.
Before the end of the week, an invitation will be issued to the banks to participate in the National Entrepreneurship Development Fund (ETEAN) while referring to National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), he said that the absorption rate has already been increased, adding that 11 instead of ten projects, with an estimated budget of 4.65 billion euros, will be funded by NSRF.
source: ANA
