Five key decisions target business challenges in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
Six chambers of commerce and industry in Greece’s Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region have identified five priorities aimed at easing business financing pressures, speeding up delayed rural development payments and expanding market access for regional products.
The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Regional Chamber Council hosted by the Drama Chamber of Commerce on October 7, 2026. The agenda includes a proposed 120-installment debt repayment scheme, action over delayed LEADER programme payments, a regional trade fair in Athens in 2027, participation in an innovation event and stronger cooperation on occupational health and safety.
According to the council, the measures are intended to improve business competitiveness, support entrepreneurship and help regional companies reach wider markets.
BUSINESS GROUPS SEEK 120-INSTALLMENT DEBT PLAN
One of the council’s main priorities is to enable businesses and self-employed professionals to repay outstanding debts over a longer period.
The council plans to ask Greece’s Ministry of National Economy and Finance to allow businesses already enrolled in 24-, 48- or 72-installment repayment schemes to transfer to a new plan offering up to 120 installments.
The proposal aims to reduce monthly repayment burdens and ease cash-flow pressures, helping businesses maintain their operations. The measure remains a request to the authorities and has not been presented as an approved policy.
URGENT ACTION SOUGHT OVER DELAYED LEADER PAYMENTS
The council also plans to send a formal protest letter and request an urgent meeting with the relevant authorities over delays affecting payments under the 2014–2020 Rural Development Programme’s LEADER initiative.
According to the council, problems associated with the transition of agricultural payment responsibilities from Greece’s former payment agency OPEKEPE to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) have contributed to delays in completing certain payments.
Businesses that have completed their investments but are still waiting for support funds are reportedly facing serious cash-flow difficulties. The council is calling for outstanding procedures to be completed and unpaid amounts to be disbursed as soon as possible.
REGIONAL PRODUCTS TO BE PROMOTED IN ATHENS
Another priority is a proposed regional exhibition at Syntagma Metro Station in Athens in 2027.
The event would showcase the productive capacity, local products and businesses of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace to consumers and commercial networks in the Greek capital. Organisers hope it will help regional companies build business connections and access new markets.
INNOVATION AND BUSINESS NETWORKING
The council also backed active participation by regional chambers and businesses in VIA INNOVATA 2026, an event scheduled to take place in Drama on November 21–22, 2026.
The initiative aims to showcase innovative companies, facilitate business networking and encourage new partnerships.
COOPERATION ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
The fifth priority focuses on workplace health and safety training. The council plans to promote cooperation between the region’s chambers of commerce and industry and the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Regional Administration, including seminars for businesses.
A SHARED REGIONAL BUSINESS AGENDA
Taken together, the five priorities address immediate concerns over debt repayments and delayed funding while seeking longer-term improvements in innovation, business development and market visibility.
The proposals will require follow-up by the relevant authorities and participating organisations before their intended benefits can be realised.
