“Kathimerini” Newspaper | Business Section | Date: 17/05/2013
Greece at rock bottom in digital economy
Greece is currently ranked 30th out of the 34 OECD countries in e-intensity, the indicator used to gauge digital economy. The country’s index value is 63, and it is way behind compared to all European countries, apart from Slovakia and Turkey. It is worth noting that in 2010 the internet’s direct contribution to Greek economy was estimated at 2.7 billion euro, or 1.2% of Greece’s total GDP, when the corresponding values for Spain were 2.2%, for Germany 3.4%, and for the UK 7.2%. Mr. Vassilis Antoniadis, a representative of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), presented the findings of the company’s survey titled “The Internet Factor: The Internet as a Lever of Growth for Greek Economy,” during a working lunch hosted by Professor Ioannis Tsoukalas, a “New Democracy” MEP. According to the data, the growth opportunities that lie with digital economy are huge, as 18% of Greek small- to medium-sized businesses don’t use the internet at all, while 31% of them use it very little. Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) survey “The Internet Factor: The Internet as a Lever of Growth for Greek Economy,” as well as other successful Greek companies, from the entire spectrum of the economy, utilize the internet.
An optimistic note to the conversation was given by Ms. Zoi Antoniadi, architect and owner of ArchZone. Despite the financial crisis, ArchZone managed to expand its clientele and increase its business and its partners, by investing in online services and digital marketing. The Secretary General of Public Revenue Mr. Ch. Theocharis presented a series of digital reforms taking place in the public sector, and Mr. P. Tzortzakis, growth and innovation coordinator for the Ministry of Development, talked about the crucial role of innovation and entrepreneurship, focusing on the need for a harmonious collaboration between their three main factors: state – innovative businesses – investors.
