Hatzidakis for brain drag: 350,000 out of 600,000 have been repatriated

The policies that have already been implemented and led – according to Eurostat data, to which it referred – to the return of some 350,000 Greeks, his generation, who left abroad in 2010-2021, were presented by the Minister for Finance and Finance, at the annual BrainReGain event on the subject: “Back to Roots: Challenges. Opportunities. Initiatives”. Costas Hatzidakis said that “the course of the economy is the basis of the effort to return the brain drag generation. But to attract as many as possible a global and multi-level effort from our side. We must change the conditions that led them to make that decision to leave!”. ‘We have fallen’, he recalled, ‘taxes and contributions. We simplified the licensed environment. We made Greece more attractive to investment. As a result, Greece notes four and a half years now high growth rates. Unemployment approached the pre-crisis levels. The average salary increased over 20%. Even the most skeptical accepts it: The economy today has absolutely nothing to do with 2019. And in this direction we continue. With one of the biggest challenges being real convergence of incomes with the EU average. We have taken a very important measure in this direction. I refer to the 50% discount on their income for the first seven years, for the natural persons transferring their tax residence to Greece.” However, he added, we must continue the effort to attract as many of the 250,000 who have not yet returned. And in order to achieve this, a holistic approach to the issue includes: – The creation of highly qualified jobs, corresponding to those in which they are already employed, since 70% have a master’s degree, doctorate, postdoctoral degree. “I used the issue as Minister of Labour and Social Affairs in terms of upgrading the training of workers already in Greece. However, it can also contribute to the coverage of highly qualified positions by attracting the generation of brain drain,” said Mr. In this context he highlighted the significant investments made by Greek companies, but also the notable, the influx of large foreign investments into the country by giants such as Microsoft, Google, Cisco, Pfizer, JP Morgan, Amazon. Already the recent ELSTAT data show that the 6 out of 10 new jobs created between the 3rd quarter of 2019 and the 3rd quarter of 2023 were high skill positions! – The conditions prevailing in the working environment. “When I was Minister of Labour and Social Affairs,” said Mr. Hatzidakis, “we brought the reform of the Labour Protection Act. And we introduced: The Digital Work Card that is not applied to executives, but to respect workers’ hours by some bad employers. The new and larger parental leave. The arrangement of working time to make it easier to reconcile personal and family life. The “right of disconnection” in teleworking so we don’t have complaints about burnout! These are all measures in force in Greece.” – Improving funding and business environment, as many have smart business ideas but do not have the capital to implement them. “There have been steps, there are already several cells and we are preparing a new law to support business mergers and innovation with tax incentives and support from the NSRF and the Greek Development Bank.” – The treatment of bureaucracy, the general improvement of living standards with interventions in health, education, family support, security, social policy. “The effort is obviously about the State. However, it also concerns businesses, which should be open-minded, looking forward and opening their arms to young people and new realities,” stressed Mr. Hatzidakis and concluded: “If we all try together, government, social forces and businesses will convince young people that they deserve to change their lives once again and return to the place where they were born. Close to their families, not only because they miss them but because Greece becomes a country of opportunity. We rely on initiatives such as yours and people like you so that Greece can rise higher.”