The key role of logistics in the Greek economy's productivity tranformation was the focus of Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos' speech on Wednesday, at the first regular session of the new National Supply Chain Development and Competitiveness Council.

Increasing the participation share of logistics in Greece's GDP is a strategic target of the government, Theodorikakos said, adding that the state and businesses of the sector could join forces to meet this target. 

"The supply chain is the connecting link between the entry gates for raw materials, the production units, and the consumption centers, both in Greece and in the rest of Europe, that is why it is a key link in the new productivity model," the minister underlined. He noted that the supply chain share in GDP was nearly 12%, "but lags behind European countries with similar features: significant ports and entry gates of global supply chains, in other words."

Theodorikakos pointed out that Greece's standing globally has improved impressively, as reflected by World Bank data, which raised Greece from 69th to 19th, a jump of 50 ranks. "However, the hard part starts now, because countries that are Global Logistics Hubs like Netherlands, Belgium, Hong Kong, the Emirates, and Denmark, which we are trying to catch up to, belong to the top 10 countries," he said.

In Greece, there are six large-scale projects in Attica Region and Thessaloniki, based on concessions by the Greek state but implemented by private capital, he reiterated. The minister also called on all businesses in the sector to propose to the government council and the National Council legislation and funding initiatives that would make them more competitive.