1. DRAMA CHAMBER AND APP4INNO PROGRAMME Partners’ Meeting Pec, Hungary 25 October 2012

2. Locations Drama is located in Northern Greece. It is a border area with Bulgaria and not too far from border with Turkey. The major Greek city of Thessaloniki is located within 150km radios and constitutes the main influence of economic influence to our area.

3. Infrastructure The region has embarked on a vast programme of infrastructure projects funded significantly through the European Union’s Community Support Framework. Two major airports service the needs of the region. One is located in Hrisoupolis (60 km from Drama) the other in Thessaloniki (140 km from Drama). The road network is in excellent condition. The rail network passes right through the Prefecture with major stations in Drama and Paranesti. Sea links are served through the harbors of Kavala, Nea Peramos and Thessaloniki.

4. The Investment Incentives in the Region The new development law provides incentives for investments up to 60% in grant subsidies. Transnational companies are well- represented in Drama, exhibiting the area’s appeal to investors who wish to use the city as a base for their entrepreneurial activity, for their European as well as international operations.

5. THE PRODUCTS AGRICULTURE: Cereal, maize, potatoes, tomatoes for industrial use, sugar beets, tobacco, cotton. ANIMAL FARMING: Bovine, goats, sheep, apiculture, pork, rabbits FORESTRY: The Prefecture contains 4% of all wooded areas in Greece and produces about 25% of timber in Greece. (fir, pine, beech, birch, oak, etc.)

6. MINERALS Marble (8 of the largest marbles extracting and processing Greek industries are located in Drama, which produces 55% of all Greek marble exports), important ferrous and non-ferrous mining.

7. INDUSTRIES Well-developed industries for dairy products, food processing, ready-to-wear, industrial machinery and equipment, wood processing, paper and pulp production. Today, the area’s ready to wear sector is the most important in Greece, receiving international recognition for its brand-name, high quality clothing produced by skilled workers and sold to fashion establishments in Europe and throughout the world. The food industry, which processes goods from the fertile agricultural land, develops at a very rapid pace.

8. Wine - Trade VINICULTURE: The last few years viniculture is becoming an important industry in the region. At the moment several world renowned wine industries are operating in the region with excellent products and wines that are exported all over the world. RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: The economic importance of Drama as a business center extends beyond its strict geographic boundaries. It includes entire areas of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, as well as areas outside of the nation’s northern borders such as the Mesta valley and the region of Smolian in Bulgaria – areas that have exhibited a deep commitment to economic cooperation with Drama.

9. TOURISM: Tourism is an important investment opportunity in Drama. It combines a stunning landscape, temperate climate, Mediterranean hospitality and a cultural history of 3000 years. The area has many interesting places to visit that are of historical, artistic and commercial significance. In the Prefecture of Drama, one finds a major skiing resort with all modern facilities. Health spas, hiking, mountain tourism, agro-tourism, small hotels and other tourist attractions are well developed in Drama. In the city of Drama one can find an important Archeological Museum, enjoy nature at the many parks including the one with natural springs and visit important ancient, Byzantine and modern Greek art monuments.

10. The Drama Chamber promoting and lobbying for business interests vis-a-vis the authorities by giving advice and supplying support supporting entrepreneurial initiatives by providing information and other services implementing and following up on various rules of commerce and legislative acts relating to business

11. CHAMBER AND EU PROGRAMMES The Chamber has an over 10 year experience in the management and implementation of EU funded programmes We have been very successful in the implementation of CBC and transnational programmes (EuropeAid, SEE, MEDOC, INTERREG, etc.) Cooperation in projects with Turkey Currently we implement FATE

12. EU funded programmes We have just finished the project “FATE” funded by the Southeast Europe Programme We are curently implementing the project “REINPO” funded by the EU programme MED A score of ROP and operational programmes funded by EU and national funds Active cooperation in the implementation of projects in Turkey funded by the “preaccession instrument” Leonardo project “Co-Working”

13. Δίκτυα Συνεργασίας

14. The Chamber and the Networks of Cooperation The Drama Chamber is a member of the ARGE28 (www.arge28.com) network of European chambers located along border regions.www.arge28.com There is a close cooperation of the Drama Chamber with the Eurorechambers, (www.eurochambres.com) the pan-European organization representing all the Chambers of Europe in Brussels.www.eurochambres.com

15. Euroregion Mesta Nestos The headquarters of the Euroregion Nestos – Mesta, (www.euroreigon.gr) an organized formation of structured cross border cooperation in the region of Drama and that of southern Bulgaria, are located in the Drama Chamber. Through the Euroregion Nestos – Mesta, the Drama Chamber has strong representation in the Association of European Border Regions AEBR (www.aebr.net).www.euroreigon.grwww.aebr.net

16. The Chamber and APP4INNO Due to the nature of the economic fabric of our region the project is extremely important and interesting Support to our companies Networking and exchange of know-how Dissemination of information and experience to our companies in Drama