We, the Friends of Greece
We, the Friends of
Greece.......
We believe that we are all very happy that a solution
to the present very dangerous crisis is now on the table and being implemented.
There is still a long way to go. But if
we are REAL friends we also have to give REAL help!
YES, it is important to get the fair and efficient tax
collection to work, incl. the vat. YES, it is true that the public sector,
incl. the military, has grown far too big and resources have to be reallocated
to more productive use. YES, it is true that corruption and nepotism has to be
addressed and eliminated. YES, it is correct that bureaucracy in Greece is huge
and very damaging for a well functioning modern society. YES, it is true that
it is very difficult to run a successful private business in the country.
This is a huge challenge for all Greeks now and for a
long time ahead. And doing all that they should count on our help, our best practices, our creative and efficient support in
any way and form they want it.
But this is not at all the most important challenge
for Greece now.
It is to build up and strengthen a production of goods
and services, which they can sell to all of us. There are hardly any Greek
products to buy in our shops today. This MUST CHANGE. And this includes their
asset above all: tourism. It is great to be a tourist in friendly Greece. But
their tourist industry has hardly developed since the 1970ies.Turkey, Spain,
Portugal and Italy are far ahead of them. Also when serving rich tourists is
concerned - they spend a lot of money. Greece has all the potentials. Also for
tourism with creative contents, what millions of people want today.
And what about developing their production and export
of olive oil products, including more refined ones. The same for wine. And for
other agro products. Leather products is another good case. Design, where many
Greeks are very strong. There is a huge
demand for all that in the big European market with more than 500 million consumers.
And also beyond Europe.
One obvious need is to strengthen the cooperation
between Greek producers. Be it in cooperatives or in other forms. Each small
producer of olive oil, of shoes or of wine cannot be expected to be able to run
an efficient marketing - certainly not abroad. They must work together, like in
other countries.
Training and education is also vital. Perhaps some of
the existing or coming EU programmes can be used for that.
And what about the millions of Greeks living abroad -
the Greek expatriates? How can they be
encouraged to help?
There are lots of ways to help and stimulate the Greek
small and medium-size companies, which must be the backbone of the new future
for the Greek economy? Why not take some
inspiration from the big American city of Detroit, which went broke three years
ago - and where lots of local initiatives now are bringing the city and its
economy back to life?
We, the Friends of Greece,
can and should help by buying the Greek products, by sharing best practices, by
producing some of our commodities in Greece (perhaps replacing some of our
production in Asia and elsewhere in the world), by partnerships, by joint sales
promotion, by investments - in any way we can be useful.
And remember: It is NOW. Not tomorrow.
If you agree to that, please sign. And make sure that this message is circulated
to all your networks.
And even more important: Share in the box below your experience, your
ideas, your proposals for efficient and creative steps, which our Greeks
friends and we can and should take - together or alone.
We have to show operational European creativity and
sustainable European values when they are best!
Niels
Jørgen Thøgersen
August 6, 2015
Action:
Send me a mail saying:
1) I support the Friends
of Greece and your projects (you
will then be informed about all future steps and actions, incl. our coming
website, initiatives on the social media, etc.)
2) I have the following suggestions for concrete
actions to help our Greek friends:
a)
b)
c)
Name:
E-mail:
