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Business support - Greece

Updated 12/2011

The Investment Law is the principal legislation in support of business, providing attractive incentives for investment in all sectors of the economy, which are implemented by companies in the entire Greek territory regardless of their size. These mainly focus on small and medium enterprises and emerging sectors of the economy.

  • New Investment Law (Law 3908/2011) pdf [364 KB] ελληνικά

Helping businesses

Private organisations

The Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) collectively represents its company - members in their relations with other social partners as well as with the State.

  • Hellenic Federation of Enterprises ελληνικά

The Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants    (GSEVEE) is a tertiary nationwide employers' organisation and one of the key social partners co-signing the National General Collective Labour Agreement (GSEE, GSEVEE, ESEE, SEV).

  • Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants (GSEVEE) ελληνικά

The National Confederation of Greek Trade (ESEE) is the tertiary representative organisation of Greek trade, representing the Greek market both at the nationwide and international level.

  • National Confederation of Greek Trade ελληνικά

The Entrepreneurship Development Institute is a non-profit and non-governmental organisation contributing to the creation of a n environment to promote entrepreneurship, research and extroversion on behalf of businesses.

  • Entrepreneurship Development Institute pdf [594 KB] ελληνικά

The Federation of Greek Associations of Young Entrepreneurs (ESYNE) acts as an observer to the YES for Europe (Young Entrepreneurs for Europe - European Confederation of Young Entrepreneurs)

  • Federation of Greek Associations of Young Entrepreuners ελληνικά

The Greek branch of JADE, a European organisation of youth entrepreneurship, provides expertise and support in establishing and running a business.

Public-private organisations

As far as Greek Chambers are concerned, the Central Union of Greek Chambers acts as the State statutory adviser on economy and general development issues, represents the Chambers of the country both internally and abroad, and provides services to them.

  • Central Union of Chambers ελληνικά

At the bilateral level, the following foreign Chambers operate in Greece:

  • Arab-Greek Chamber of Commerce - Development ελληνικά
  • British-Greek Chamber of Commerce
  • German-Hellenic Economic Association ελληνικά
  • Hellenic-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry ελληνικά
  • Hellenic-Japanese Chamber of Commerce ελληνικά
  • Hellenic-Italian Chamber ελληνικά
  • Hellenic-Serbian Union of Commerce and Industry ελληνικά
  • Hellenic-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EKEVE) ελληνικά
  • Hellenic-Swedish Chamber of Commerce ελληνικά
  • Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce

Finally, the Enterprise Europe Network - Hellas, member of the European network, is the largest network of integrated business support covering the entire Greek territory.

The network provides services of international business cooperation, information on European policies, services for innovation and the transfer of technology, and services to encourage SME participation in European schemes relating to Research and Development.

The project is implemented through a consortium between 16 organisations composed of industry associations, research and technology institutions, chambers of industry and commerce and reputable operators in the field of innovation and SMEs.

  • Enterprise Europe Network - Hellas ελληνικά

Public organisations

There are a number of public organisations available to assist business owners.

The Hellenic Organisation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Handicraft S.A. (ΕΟΜΜΕΧ) provides small and medium-sized companies with updated information on running a business. it also acts as the national contact point for the EU's 7th framework programme for research and technological development.

ΕΟΜΜΕΧ is also the seat of the National Observatory for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, which helps develop and implement policies in support of small companies and businesses in general.

  • National Observatory for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises ελληνικά

Investor Reception Centres (ΚΥΕ) coordinate public services involved in setting up new businesses and issuing licenses.

They provide information on:

  • procedures to set up a business and obtain licences;
  • public administration bodies involved in issuing licences and company setting-up procedures;
  • investments and provide information to interested parties;
  • financial opportunities offered by the 3rd Community Support Framework, community incentives and the national support incentive framework (e.g. developmental law, etc).

Investor Reception Centres are located at the Development Offices in all Greek Prefectures. They collaborate with and support local administration, as a one stop shop for issuing installation and operation licences for businesses.

  • Investor Reception Centres ελληνικά

Centres of Entrepreneurial and Technological Development (ΚΕΤΑ) were created by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to enhance entrepreneurship by providing effective information and support to small and medium enterprises.

They keep public registers on taxation and other business relevant issues, they provide business-oriented publications and they are involved in the organisation of conferences and workshops.

In particular, you can ask KETA to help:

  • develop your business plan;
  • set up marketing strategies;
  • mediate and advise on funds and the use of financial tools;
  • with establishing partnerships at the national, EU or international level; and
  • set up new businesses (including targeted advice to young people, women or the unemployed).

A list of KETA available throughout the country is available at the website below:

  • KETA list ελληνικά

Business and Innovation Centres (BICs) provide support to innovative small companies, helping them to develop and stay competitive through innovation. Their services include sustainability studies, access to financing resources, technical assistance in various areas, etc.

In addition, a business incubator operates at the BIC of Attica.

  • List of BICs ελληνικά

Relevant information is also available on the websites of the following Ministries:

  • Ministry of Finance
  • Ministry of Development
  • Ministry of Interior, Decentralisation and e-Government ελληνικά
  • Ministry of Environment, Energy & Climate Change ελληνικά
  • Ministry of Labour and Social Protection ελληνικά
  • Ministry of Rural Development & Food ελληνικά

The main aim and task of the General Consumer Secretariat is:

  • to recommend the formulation and implementation of government policy on consumer protection and
  • to ensure control of the implementation of laws on consumer protection and ensure the interests of consumers

More information is available on the website below:

  • General Secretariat for Consumer Affairs ελληνικά

The Hellenic Export Promotion Organisation S.A. (OPE), is a non-profit organisation that works in the public interest, is supervised by the Ministry of Finance and has the task of implementing National Policy on exports and export trade in general.

  • Hellenic Foreign Trade Board ελληνικά

Access to finance is crucial for setting up and running a business.

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

Living and moving in Europe

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Enterprise Europe Network - Contact points

The Enterprise Europe Network provides businesses with information and advice through its local contact points. 

Choose your nearest contact point for personalized help and advice:

Further help

SOLVIT helps businesses deal with problems that arise when national authorities wrongly apply EU market rules.