Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-03-11

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM Samaras backs uniform 15 pct tax for enterprises

[02] Tajani: Greek banks' recap plan must be completed by June

[01] PM Samaras backs uniform 15 pct tax for enterprises

Addressing the B2B networking event Europe 2020 Strategy for Growth: Promoting Business Partnerships in Greece, he repeated that there will be no more economic measures and pointed out that the credibility of the Greek economy will have to be guaranteed so that the sacrifices made by the Greek people will not go to waste.

Samaras focused on the liquidity issue, noting that it will be settled with the completion of the recapitalization process, and added that the state is gradually paying off its overdue debts to private individuals which in 2010 had reached 9.6 billion euros.

Over 500 Greek and foreign businesses have registered for the event which was also addressed by Antonio Tajani, European Commission vice-president and Industry & Entrepreneurship Commissioner; Costis Hatzidakis, Development minister; Olga Kefalogianni, Tourism minister; and, Athanasios Tsaftaris, Rural Development ministry.

PM: 2013 will be a turning point for Greece

The year 2013 will be a turning point for Greece, when it will get past the worst of the recession and start its recovery, the premier said. He appeared confident that "Greece will make it" and repeated promises that there will be no new austerity measures.

He stressed that Greece, despite the difficult times it was going through, was favourable for the growth of businesses and that the road leading to an exit from the crisis passed through business and enterprise.amna

"There will be no more austerity measures. Now is the time to continue the course for an exit from the crisis, to accelerate structural changes, modernise the public sector and stamp out bureaucracy," he said. The key issue, he added, was for Greece to remain "anchored" within the sphere of credibility.

The prime minister identified the problems with liquidity and the need to boost business enterprise as the main issues for Greece, noting that the recapitalisation of the banks will ensure their viability.amna

"With rising confidence, the flow of deposits returning to banks is growing, while liquidity is also increased as the state gradually pays off its debts to private citizens," Samaras said.

The prime minister went on to announce the launch of a programme providing guarantees that, through recycling, will amount to 1.5 billion euros and be able to support export activities, as well as a programme of letters of guarantee that is due to be implemented.

In presenting the government's actions to boost liquidity and entrepreneurship, Samaras emphasised the vital role that private initiative and free competition, rid of the 'protectionist' attitudes of the past, will play in this effort.

He particularly emphasised the importance of new investment legislation, saying that this will foster innovative ideas and initiatives that will change the climate, and stressed the need for a 'contract' between the state and people that wanted to create. Among others, the prime minister announced that the government was preparing 25 measures to simplify exports, while simultaneously abolishing a series of obstacles that created problems, stressing that the new law will "strike at bureaucracy and bring investments".amna

[02] Tajani: Greek banks' recap plan must be completed by June

Addressing the B2B networking event Europe 2020 Strategy for Growth: Promoting Business Partnerships in Greece organized by the European Commission and the Secretariat General for Industry in Athens, the EU Commissioner noted that without economic growth it was impossible to win over a crisis.amna

"We need real economic, more internal market, industry, we need more SMEs," Tajani said, adding that Greek citizens have done many sacrifices which could become useless unless "we combine the Ecofin with a competitiveness council with the aim of adopting decisions with micro-economy". The Italian EC vice-president ended his speech with the phrase "We are all Greeks".amna

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