Greek SME and craft industry development initiatives

Greek political and business leaders have initiated plans to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the craft industry through new financing and development frameworks.

During the 1st National Craft Congress in Athens, the Minister of Development, Takis Theodorikakos, announced the upcoming establishment of three new regimes under the Development Law by the end of 2026. These measures are intended to finance productive investments and strengthen the ‘Made in Greece’ identity. Complementary efforts in Kastoria focused on liquidity enhancement and the use of funding programs like the NSRF (ESPA).

Following these discussions, Minister Theodorakakos specified that the three new support programs will total €450 million, with each regime allocated €150 million. These programs will target SME export orientation, modern technologies including Artificial Intelligence, and social entrepreneurship. To foster innovation, a €17 million joint initiative between the Ministry of Development and the Attica Region was introduced to fund partnerships between businesses and research organizations. The Minister emphasized the goal of creating high-quality jobs for young scientists and committed to a 90-day assessment period for investment plans under the Development Law.