Finance Minister: Greek Recovery Plan to Focus on 12 Key Areas

The Hellenic Parliament. Photo Source: @PressParliament

Bolstering the business environment, diversifying production, fostering productivity through investment and innovation, and boosting employment are the key areas Greece must focus on in order to achieve post-Covid-19 recovery, said Greek Finance Minister Christos Staikouras.

Speaking this week during the annual Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) meeting on post-Covid-19 recovery, Staikouras underlined that a resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery will require international cooperation. The minister went on to add however that individual OECD governments will be required at the same time to address pre-existing challenges limiting growth dynamics.

OECD virtual meeting. Photo source: @Christos Staikouras

During the meeting, the minister presented a rough draft of Greece’s recovery plan which will focus on 12 key areas. Priorities for the Greek government include transitioning to greener practices, a far-reaching digital transformation and enhancing skills and productivity, Staikouras said.

“Reducing inequalities and fighting poverty are essential to ensuring the success of our efforts,” he said, adding that Greece will also be required to address new challenges created by the Covid-19 crisis, including the need to improve and strengthen public health systems.

12 key areas

Greek Finance Minister Christos Staikouras. Photo source: cstaikouras.gr

Greece’s post-Covid recovery plan currently being drawn up will focus on:

-increasing the use of renewable energy sources,
-improving energy efficiency, mainly through a wave of building renovations,
-reforms and investments aimed at improving water management and solid and water waste,
-digitization of the public sector and expanding the use of digital technologies by the private sector,
-enhancing connectivity,
-improving labor market efficiency through vocational training and learning programs,
-strengthening the health system,
-improving tax administration,
-improving the efficiency of the judicial system,
-promoting research and innovation,
-cutting red tape and improving the business environment,
-expanding the country’s export base.