Minister of Finance Christos Staikouras met with representatives of the commercial world, Cretan entrepreneurship and economic operators of the island at the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce, continuing his visit to Crete. The meeting was initiated by the Federation of Commercial Associations of Crete and the content of the discussion was related to the issues facing the island's businesses and the local economy, with Mr. Staikouras noting that the purpose of the meeting was «an open and frank discussion, review and planning. Four-year review and policy assessments for the next four years, for the new governance of New Democracy» as he stressed.
Mr. Staikouras said that «in the assessment of the four-year period, I think that this government can look business in the eyes with confidence and realism», adding that «before the 2019 elections, business on the island was asking for reductions in taxes and insurance contributions and today we have significantly and permanently reduced these taxes», referring to the most important - as he pointed out - tax reductions, such as the income tax to 22% from 29%, the reduction in advance tax and insurance contributions, and the abolition of the solidarity contribution, which he added will become permanent from 2023.
«This government is pursuing a policy of permanent tax cuts and insurance contributions», the Finance Minister noted, reiterating the impact of the «unprecedented exogenous crises», explaining that «we had to build a safety net over households and businesses and again, together with businesses, we succeeded».
Mr.Staikouras referred to the refundable advances, the rent subsidy, financing through the banking system, the electricity subsidy, fuel subsidies and a number of other measures, which, as he explained, «give a final result of 50 billion euros of support for households and businesses» and explained that the proof that the government is close to entrepreneurship is that «the country is growing at twice the average European rate and it is estimated that in 2023 it will grow even more strongly than in the previous year.
Mr.Staikouras said that «not only the amount of growth is important, but also the quality of growth», adding that «Greece in 2022 will have a historical record of investment and exports, while according to the European Commission, the country will be a champion in Europe, among all EU Member States, in the rate of growth of investment in 2022, 2023 and 2024».
However, as the Finance Minister explained, there are «many challenges ahead», noting that «we have an increased cost of borrowing, for the state, households and businesses. We have a reduced volume of red loans in the banks« portfolios,but private debt has not been reduced it has gone to the trustees. We have a monetary policy that is becoming more and more contractionary and we have an inflation rate that is below the European average for the second month in a row, but it is high and will remain high, nibbling away at the disposable income of the citizen.Finally, he said that »we have to continue to be close to households and businesses and we will continue to be as long as it takes to achieve even higher rates of economic growth, to create even more jobs and to strengthen the community.
The president of the Federation of Commercial Associations of Crete Manolis Koumantakis thanked the Minister of Finance for his presence, referring to the possibility of cooperation between businesses and the government «so that we can move a step forward in the development of the country».
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Minister of Sports Lefteris Avgenakis, the MP of Heraklion ND Maximos Senetakis, as well as local party members.
