EVEA wants more reforms, renewed view of business
The government needs to expand reforms and promote a new development mode and a new perception of entrepreneurship, Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EVEA) Drakoulis Fountoukakos said yesterday. «This drive should include the deregulation of a series of markets, particularly tertiary education, privatizations, labor relations, further tax cuts, private financial initiatives for public projects and the lifting of permanent employment status for all new employees in public utilities,» he said at yesterday’s EVEA 2005 awards, in the presence of Economy Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis. Such moves will improve the entrepreneurial climate and attract foreign investment, he added. «New perceptions must prevail in the state apparatus, the banking system and businesspeople, but also in Greek society and its official agencies,» Fountoukakos said. The pillars of the new model must include a modern education system, an integrated national policy, deregulation of «closed shop» markets and professions, and a radically modernized public administration. EVEA’s award for Exporting Activity went to firms Elval and Aluminium of Greece, the Brand Product award to BSB, the International Activity award to Intralot and Petzetakis, the Enterprise and Environment award to Vivechrom, the Social Responsibility award to EFG Eurobank Ergasias, the Increase in Employment award to Alumil Mylonas, the Research and Technological Development award to Elpen SA, the Enterprise and Tradition award to the National Bank of Greece and Alpha Bank, and the Self-Made Entrepreneur award to Ioannis Kapralos of Xylemporia.
