UNION OF HELLENIC

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

(UHCC)

BRIEF BACKGROUND

OF THE CHAMBER INSTITUTION IN GREECE The UHCC and the 59 Greek Chambers are Public Law Legal Entities and are subject to management supervision by the General Secretariat for Commerce of the Ministry of Development, regarding the legality of their actions.

They are: mandatory self-sufficient independent & self-financed organisations operating in a specific region supporting the economic growth

BRIEF BACKGROUND

OF THE CHAMBER INSTITUTION IN GREECE

Main advisor of the government

General Trade Register (kept by the Chambers - Central Administration at the UHCC) regulated by Law 3419/2005

UHCC: 9-member Administration Board (elected every four years by the General Assembly with the participation of all member-Chambers)

Each Chamber: Administration Council and Administration Board (elected every four years, respectively, by the member-businesses)

STRATEGY

UHCC is the State’s enacted advisor on economy and growth in general.

UHCC has set the following objectives, by order of priority:

To perform its consulting role vis-a-vis the authorities in the most effective way;

To provide integrated information and services to its member-Chambers;

To efficiently represent the 59 Chambers at home and abroad;

To assert the management of development projects from the State.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTION KEYSTONES

The UHCC has set the following priorities:

• Essential contribution of the Chambers in economic policymaking and implementation, via the submission of opinions on every economic-related matter.

• Active participation in all functioning Committees that the State and various state bodies are setting up from time to time, concerning the economic and development activity.

• Promote and realise the substance of the General Trade Register.

• Active presence abroad, and especially within the European Union (Eurochambres), South-eastern Europe (Association of Balkan Chambers) and Eastern Mediterranean.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTION KEYSTONES

• Coordinating role in promoting entrepreneurship and better preparing young, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs.

• Expanding the role and activities of Chambers in vocational training.

• Creation of a new institutional environment for the growth of Business Infrastructures (Industrial Areas).

ORGANISATION STRUCTURE

Chambers in Greece operate the most complete national communication network, on a business world level, with the UHCC being the reference centre.

The UHCC:

• represents the Chambers at home and abroad. • represents the Hellenic business-world: namely 900 thousand enterprises. • The 59 Hellenic Chambers participate in the Union on an equal basis: Commerce

– Industry – Craft and Professional.

The UHCC (and the member-Chambers) are:

• The connecting link between businesses and public administration, and the official forum for dialogue between the state and the productive classes.

• The consultant to the Hellenic businesses, offering them various services to improve the business environment they operate in and to have better access to various financing means.

• The submitting and forwarding link of various entrepreneurial requests.

CONSTANT PRESENCE BEFORE THE STATE

• Supporting local and regional requests before central administration, cooperating with Ministries and providing opinion to authorities.

• Following arrangements with local Chambers, the UHCC forwards matters of local or regional interest to the Central Administration.

• The UHCC opinion-giving function to public authorities, namely the Parliament, the Government and Ministries, constitutes the eminently enacted competence of the UHCC and of Chambers.

PRESENTATION IN GOVERNMENT MEETINGS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS

• National Exports Council, Ministry of Development.• National Quality for Growth Council, Ministry of Development.• National Consumer Council, Ministry of Development.• Coastal Transportation Council, Ministry of Mercantile Marine• Tourism Committee, Ministry of Tourism.• Technical Training and Examination Committee for Private

Insurance Intermediaries, Ministry of Economy.• National Board of SMEs, Ministry of Development.• Committee to reform Development Incentives Law, Ministry of

Economy.• The Committee to reform the Tax System, Ministry of Finance.• National Action Plan for the Development of Industrial Areas.

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITY

The UHCC’s international activities are basically two-fold:

• In the European Union, with European Commission and the Association of European Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Eurochambres),

and

• In South-eastern Europe, with the A.B.C. (Association of Balkan Chambers).

Thank You!

Vassilis ApostolopoulosGeneral Manager

UNION OF HELLENIC CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

6 Akadimias str. - 10671 Athens Tel: +30 210 3387104 (-106)

Fax: +30 210 3622320http://www.uhc.gr

Email: keeuhcci@otenet.gr