As the Greek economy and the international environment stand at a critical crossroad with new challenges and uncertainty, small enterprises are called on to intensify their efforts for productive transformation in order to remain intact in these difficult economic times.
The triangle of uncertainty consists of the indeterminacy as to the completion of the first evaluation, the deterioration in terms of refugee flows and the difficulty in their management, and, finally, the probability of political instability. It is clear, that the consecutive burdens put on the Greek economy due to the delays in taking important financial decisions about pensions, taxes and non-performing loans, as well as due to the dilatory policy by the international community on the issue of refugees, creates a new climate of uncertainty and it adds a heavy burden on the already gloomy environment of decreased liquidity and high unemployment, in which small enterprises are called on to work and produce wealth. It is not sure that small enterprises which managed to overcome the bottleneck of capital restrictions -although not without significant losses- performing their role as the main factor maintaining local economic and social cohesion will be able to absorb new economic, social and political shocks. The coexistence of financial risks and the sociopolitical threats reinforces the climate of uncertainty.
Macroeconomic performance remains weak. Investment activity remains low, employment prospects are limited, while the excessive tax burdens make Greek enterprises uncompetitive. The economic dualism indicated in our previous survey remains since enterprises or members of enterprises switch to the informal sector of the economy, while many medium-sized enterprises consider the possibility of transferring their headquarters to other countries, following a “corporate refugee” road.
IME GSEVEE believes that the insistence on implementing the front-loaded austerity programme without any growth sign will lead to further decline in business activity. Within the next three months, developments must be launched and important initiatives must be taken that will trigger a virtuous cycle of growth, coupled with institutional stability, national unity and social cohesion.
Today, on the occasion of preparing the new Investment Law which is expected to be published in the near future, a structured production restructuring plan is imperative by mobilising all available forces of the Greek economy and simultaneously making the most of national sources, both private and public, and rapidly absorbing EU funds in sectors of national interest with a multiplier benefit. Priority for the entrepreneurial community of the country is the promotion of a modern institutional and organisational framework for financing and the provision of investment incentives. At the same time, small enterprises are encouraged to make use of all existing tools and invent ways to improve economies of scale through collaborative schemes, vertical integration, partnerships, massive promotion of local products.
IME GSEVEE Surveys 
