To that end, businesses need to take the first step in a spirit of self-awareness, and self-improvement. Only thus, can they effectively convince and help shape public policy to support businesses and growth. With respect to the latter, we must stay focused on the need to increase domestic industry’s contribution to the economy. SEV’s aim is to increase industry’s share of GDP from 10% to 15% in ten years. Such an increase would entail significant multiplier effects and could create up to 550.000 new, well remunerated and steady jobs.

But the success of such an endeavour largely depends on embracing three, primary, horizontal priorities: the Digital Revolution, strengthening skills in the job market and improving links between education and the job market, and Green Growth. These go hand in hand, with Greece’s key consideration which is to significantly increase domestic and international investment. SEV’s ambition is to effectively contribute in that direction and we will continue to do so.

We live in irregular, unpredictable times and we must also focus on managing the crisis caused by the pandemic and the absolute necessity of saving lives. Needs are increasingly complicated and we are at the end of the beginning. Now, it is crucial to protect the vulnerable but healthy, productive capabilities in the country. Tough decisions will need to be made by the government to mitigate the pandemic’s consequences, priorities will have to be set, and funds will need to be allocated. In all of this, we must stay united and work together. It brings out the best in us.

During the pandemic, the Greek people proved to the world, but also perhaps more importantly, to ourselves, that we are capable of the best. Our collective confidence, which for some years we had lost, will grow from here.