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Socioeconomic Environment
According to the Magazine “ΕΠΙΛΟΓΗ – Hellas’ Counties”, the County of Viotia concentrates a 1,1% of the total population of the country and produces 2% of the GDP (the 7th highest place), whereas it has the lowest rate of Primary education students per 1.000 inhabitants (55 against 58 which is the national average rate).
The contribution of the County to the national GDP has not changed throughout the last years.
More specifically, to processing activities corresponds the 57% of the County’s product (the highest in the country) and it is where the 13% of the total industry’s processing production of the country is being produced (the 3rd higher contribution in the country after Athens and Thessaloniki (table 2, graph 2).
The per capita product of the County reaches 34,3 thousand €, 78% higher of the average rate of the country (145% of the average rate of the EU-25), because of the high concentration of industries in the region.
These facts though do not illustrate the real status of the County and of its socioeconomic life, which is much different if we further examine other welfare indicators (Tables 3 & 4).
Only 20 cars correspond to every 100 inhabitants, whereas the average rate of the country equals 39. Average saving deposit per inhabitant reaches 7,4 thousand €, whereas the declared revenue per taxpayer equals 12,7 thousand € and the County’s taxpayers have paid on an average rate for income taxes 796 €, against 1.222 € which is the average income tax of the country. Viotia has being holding up to 2003 one of the lowest rates of economic activity in the country, which has raised to 0,9 new residences per 100 inhabitants in 2006 (against 1,1 in the country).
The County holds the 3rd place in the production of tomato as well as in the production of cotton with a 10% and a 9% of the total national production respectively.
Entrepreneurship in Viotia County
In the County of Viotia there exist 10.955 enterprises as recorded by our Chamber, allocated by activity as illustrated on table 5, whereas the export activity of the County is described in table 6.
As far as entrepreneurial activity in Viotia is concerned, we should point out that there is an urgent need for a spatial organization of the processing and manufacturing activity, which is concentrated in our County, which becomes even more pressing due to the continuous relocation of more units from the County of Attica.
The County of Viotia, even though it presents a significant dependence in the secondary production sector and accommodates a great part of the total manufacturing activity of the country, with enterprises that determine the national industrial and financial map, it does not have organized and suitable spaces to welcome manufacturing and industrial plants.
On the contrary, the industrial space of the region in the area of Oinofyta – Schimatari, is developed without any planning at all, not insuring a rational administration of industrial waste and downgrading the natural environment and the quality of life of the population.
Besides, it is astonishing how high are the rates of unemployment and underemployment of Viotia (of the highest in Greece), no matter the industrial development.
Our County is neighboring that of Attica. The short distance from Athens gives the opportunity to offer goods and services to a wide market and to a very large consuming audience. But at the same time, this neighboring creates problems to the autonomous development of companies that provide services whereas it intensifies the problem of competition due to the great number of producers citied in the geographic region of Attica.
The fertile soil of Kopaida offers many possibilities for the cultivation and disposal of agricultural goods to the wide consumers group of Attica.
Evidently though, the continuous and intense cultivation and production of saturated agricultural products is a dead end. Agriculture has to change its course, towards the production of goods that are of higher demand in the international markets, such as biological and ecological products etc.
The popular rural axis of Athens – Arachova – Delpi, the great number of archeological sites, churches and sites of exceptional beauty, if combined with other sites (such as of Thiva, Levadia, Chaironia) to be promoted, it could attract a large amount of tourists.
Viotia Chamber is in the disposition of the State and of every citizen wanting his collaboration, in order to boost the development of the County.
In that context, specific developmental actions are proposed by Viotia Chamber such as the expansion of the Suburban Railway to Thiva and Levadia, the rural connection of Elefsina – Thiva – Kastro, to connect the two National Roads of Patras- Athens and Athens – Lamia, the creation of an international airport in the region of Katro-Orchimeno, as a sustainable alternative proposal for the airport “El. Venizelos”, the creation of an annular speed-test track in Orchomenos and the upgrade of the internal rural network of Viotia.
The National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2007-2013, should not turn out to be a lost opportunity for Viotia, since today to our region neither is it taking place nor is it planned to take place any important project in the area, which could change the facts and create a competitive advantage for the local economy.
It should be noted though that for the sake of the County, the contribution of the private initiative is important. We should thus encourage with every possible means, especially the youngest ones to undertake entrepreneurial activities.
Viotia Chamber’s mission and vision is to collaborate with all public and private bodies in order to encourage the actions described above for the sake of Viotia.
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