Baku, Azerbaijan, June 2. The Regional Structure of Florina for the Business Support Mechanism was officially inaugurated by Greece's Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis.
The data obtained by Trend from the country's Ministry of Economy and Finance shows that the Mechanism aims to provide free information, foster business activity, and enhance extroversion and employment in the areas under the Just Development Transition (JDT).
The event was attended by Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Thanasis Kontogeorgis, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Nikos Tachiaos, Florina MP Stavros Papasotiriou, Florina Mayor Vasiliis Giannakis, Florina Deputy Regional Governor Athanasios Toskas, as well as local government officials, members of the academic community, regional institutions, and the business sector. The blessing ceremony was conducted by Metropolitan Ierineos of Florina, Prespes, and Eordaia.
In his address, Deputy Minister Papathanasis described the new facility as “the home of small and medium-sized entrepreneurship.” He emphasized that the project demonstrates the Greek Government’s active commitment to supporting entrepreneurship in Western Macedonia as it transitions to a sustainable, innovative, and competitive production model. The goal is to enable residents - especially young people - to stay and build their futures in their homeland.
Papathanasis highlighted the importance of the Just Development Transition program, which has a total budget of 1.6 billion euros and is the first of its kind in the EU. He also noted its rapid progress, with around 70 percent already allocated. He emphasized the importance of low-interest loans and guarantee schemes to support SMEs, particularly in JDT regions, along with training and retraining programs aimed at reintegrating the unemployed into the workforce.
The event was opened by Despina Garani, CEO of METAVASI S.A., who thanked attendees and highlighted the critical role of the Business Support Mechanism in strengthening local businesses by offering high value-added services.
Pelopidas Kalliris, Head of the Managing Authority for the JDT Program, expressed his satisfaction with the launch of the Business Support Mechanism, stressing that supporting very small enterprises - the backbone of local economies in these intervention areas - is the foundation for building a resilient and sustainable local production model.
The event was organized by METAVASI S.A. as part of the “Business Support Mechanism for the Just Development Transition” initiative. The project is funded by the Operational Program “Just Development Transition” – NSRF 2021-2027.
Earlier in the day, Papathanasis, as part of the government delegation visiting the region, presented the Local Plan for Florina within the framework of the National Strategy for Regional and Local Development. He stressed the optimal use of European funds to support society and the economy, with a focus on the JDT program and its latest developments.
Among others, the program includes the energy upgrade of Florina’s hospital and 98 investment projects expected to create 593 new jobs in the Florina regional unit alone.
Papathanasis also announced that in 2025–2026, Greece will implement its largest ever Public Investment Program, totaling 32 billion euros - an unprecedented amount in the country’s history. This funding will be allocated in line with the needs of all regional programs. He also unveiled the creation of a Special Compensatory Fund for Just Development Transition, financed by the Green Fund, for the regions of Kozani and Florina and the Municipality of Megalopolis, with a budget of 137 million euros. Additionally, he announced the construction of a Psychogeriatric Center in Florina, with an initial budget of 15 million euros.
