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European Conference

Small enterprises’ challenges in a changing economic environment

22-23 September 2023 

Athens Conservatoire

About the conference...

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Small enterprises are the engine of the European economy, creating the majority of new jobs, generating wealth, strengthening social cohesion and contributing significantly to the improvement of the quality of life of citizens. SMEs account for 99% of enterprises in the EU, employ 66% of the workforce and generate more than 50% of the EU's GDP. In particular, there are around 25 million SMEs in the EU, employing around 146 million people.

Small enterprises are the engine of the European economy

The importance and contribution of small enterprises to the economy makes it imperative to address challenges such as access to ....

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finance

Lack of liquidity and insufficient access to finance have been a persistent challenge for small enterprises since around 80% of SMEs in the EU do not have the finance they need to grow. Consequently, the lack of resources prevents small enterprises from creating new jobs and contributing to economic growth.

digital transformation

Digital transformation is both a challenge and an opportunity for small enterprises. New technologies can help them improve their productivity, introduce new and improved processes, reduce their costs and offer better products and services. For example, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used to automate tasks, improve customer service, increase sales and develop new products and services. However, small enterprises face several obstacles on their digital transformation such as the lack of resources, knowledge and awareness needed to adopt new technologies.

 

green transition

The green transition involves a shift to a sustainable economy based on renewable energy sources, the circular economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The green transition is a challenge for small enterprises, as on the one hand it can offer benefits such as reducing energy costs, which generally account for 15% of total business costs. On the other hand, significantly high transition costs, lack of information and high bureaucracy are serious obstacles for small businesses’ green transition.

 

These concurrent trends will be discussed at the Conference,

which aspires to be a meeting point for people who

operate, work,

represent and make decisions for small enterprises in a changing economic environment.

 

Conference programme

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Friday

22 September 2023

11:30 – 12:00 Arrival – Registration

12:00 – 12:30 Welcome speeches

  • Georgios Kavvathas, President,  Hellenic Confederation of Professionals,Craftsmen and Merchants (GSEVEE)
  • Ioannis Chatzitheodosiou, President,  Athens Chamber of Tradesmen (EEA)
  • Kostas Bakoyannis, Mayor of Athens 

Moderator: Rania Tzima, Journalist

 

12:30 – 13:00

  • Speech by Αnna Μani - Papadimitriou, Dep. Minister of Development of Greece

  • Speech by representative of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance(PS) Parliamentary Group President, Olga Gerovasili, 4th Vice-President of the Greek Parliament and member of the Parliament, SYRIZA-PS

 

13:00 – 14:00 Keynote Speeches

  • Yannis Stournaras, Governor, Bank of Greece
  • Christos Megalou, CEO, Piraeus Bank
  • Petri Salminen, President, SMEunited

Moderator: Rania Tzima, Journalist

 

14:00 – 15:15 Session  A - Small enterprises’ finance

  • Georgios Zavvos, Chairman and CEO, Hellenic Development Bank  
  • Vasiliki Avgoustidou, Unit D4, State aid - Financial Institutions, DG COMP, European Commission
  • Timotheos Rekkas, Deputy Director, Directorate for Entrepreneurship and SMEs, General Secretariat for Industry

  • Zoe Paschalidi, CFA, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Moderator: Christina Vidou, Journalist

 

15:15 – 16:15 Break - light lunch

16:15 - 16:30 Speech by Nikos Androulakis, President PASOK

16:30 – 17:45 Session B - Digital transformation of small enterprises

  • Antonio Grasso, Public Affairs Director, European Digital SME Alliance

  • Yiannis Kotsis-Giannarakis, Managing Director, GR digiGOV-innoHUB  (EDIH) 
  • Periklis Terlixidis, Smart Attica Hub (EDIH)

  • Niki Kousi, ΕΙΤ Manufacturing CLC SouthEast   

Moderator: George Kakousis, Journalist

 

17:45 Closure of 1st day proceedings

Saturday 

23 September 2023 

10:00 – 10:30 Arrival – Registration

10:30 – 11:00 Speech by Stefanos Kasselakis, candidate President, SYRIZA – Progressive Alliance

11:00 – 12:15 Session C - Green transition of small enterprises

  • Andreas Brieger, Sustainable Development Policy Director, SMEunited

  • Lina Konstantinopoulou, Policy Director Eurochambres 

  • Charalampos Malamatenios, Head of Division for Energy Policy and Planning, Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving 

  • Ioannis Mitliagas, President, Chamber of Trade and Industry of Kozani

Moderators: Giannis Ntsounos, Journalist

                      Christos Koutras, Journalist

 

12:15 – 12:45 Coffee break

12:45 – 13:15 Speech by Nikos Karathanasopoulos, member of the Greek Parliament, KKE

13:15 – 14:30 Session D - The alternative path of growth: A dialogue among small enterprises' institutions on the challenges and prospects of today and tomorrow

  • Georgios Kavvathas, President, Hellenic Confederation of Professionals,Craftsmen and Merchants (GSEVEE)

  • Ioannis Chatzitheodosiou, President, Athens Chamber of Tradesmen (EEA)
  • Georgios Karanikas, President, Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE)

  • Pavlos Ravanis, President, Athens Chamber of Small and Medium - sized Industries

Moderator: Nikos Rogagos, Journalist

 

14:30 End of 2nd day proceedings - Light lunch

 

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