|
|
|
Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-01-05
CONTENTS
[01] More Greek brandname products urged
[02] Snow compensation payments for farmers
[01] More Greek brandname products urged
Greek raw material products were often behind a foreign brand name
distributed in world markets, such as Greek olive oil (bottled under
Italian names), Kozani saffron (used by Spanish cooks in the
traditional paella) sardines, etc, Eugene Plalis, president of the
Exporters' Union of Northern Greece said on Wednesday.
"This phenomenon costs dearly to Greece and in order to be addressed
effectively, Greek enterprises must sell more brand and high value
added products abroad," he stressed.
Plalis said Greek exports began to rise after the latest wave of EU
expansion eastwards while he expressed his confidence that Greece would
reap more benefits after the accession of Bulgaria and Romania and
Turkey's road towards closer relations with the European Union.
He added that Greek exports have more growth potential and noted that
foreign consumers asked for specialized Greek products. Plalis said the
sectors showing the biggest export potential were clothing and fur
products, base metals, chemicals, textiles, food and beverage. He also
noted that medical precision equipment and opticals, electric machines
and appliances, machinery, plastics, fisheries and metal products were
showing increase export activity although their value remained low.
[02] Snow compensation payments for farmers
Thousands of farmers who incurred crop losses due to ice and snow in
February 2004 will begin receiving compensation payments in February
this year, Agricultural Development Minister Evangelos Basiakos said on
Wednesday.
Overall compensation is 300 million euros in a programme endorsed by
the European Union, Basiakos said in a statement.
|
