“After three days at the New Democracy congress where everything was blue, I am particularly happy about this colour change,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said with a smile as he took to the podium at the inauguration of a new production line at the Coca-Cola Triple Epsilon plant in Schimatari. He stressed that this is a new investment that boosts production, innovation and employment in our country. He also noted that the occasion is of special importance, as a company with deep Greek roots and international footprint, Coca-Cola 3E, is investing dynamically in the future of Greek industry, confirming in practice its confidence in the potential of the Greek economy and its people. According to him, this new production line is not only a significant business move but is another step towards a more productive, more extroverted, more modern and more competitive Greece, with investments that combine growth with technological progress and sustainability. €180 million investment plan in Greece
“You know that it is a special pleasure for me every time we launch a new investment in the country and I always try to participate in such pleasant moments and even more so today as we launch a new important production line of Coca-Cola Triple Epsilon, a company of the Coca-Cola Hellenic group, which – as Anastasis said – has Greek DNA, is now celebrating its 75 creative years, but it is also an international giant with a presence in more than 30 countries and a circumstance that gives me the opportunity to wish many more decades of progress with a positive sign for the Greek economy, for the market, for society and, above all, for your many employees”, the Prime Minister stressed.
“After all, we have proven that this government wants industry to be a leading player and that is why industrial production in our country has increased by more than 20% in the last seven years at a time when we do not see similar increases in Europe. With 3,000 more manufacturing companies, we have increased employment in the sector as a whole by almost 20%. Obviously these are major victories of private initiative, but also of the State and society.
And I think it is also another proof of the importance of political stability as a guarantee of the country’s development orientation. Because no investor will invest in the long term in a country that does not ensure a stable business environment, and I think that this is something that we have achieved in recent years. And together with the private sector, with the big Greek companies, we are building a Greece that produces and exports, that evolves with the times, a Greece that is prosperous.
And we will have the opportunity in a moment to put into operation this rapid new production line, which, if I have been correctly informed, more than doubles performance, while at the same time, and I will insist on this, it reduces the use of plastic and substantially reduces energy consumption. Why am I saying this? Because your investment essentially represents a leap in productivity and a step which at the same time brings us closer to European standards.
Because we have to recognise, as the ministers responsible are well aware, that in terms of productivity we are still behind the European average. Consequently, we have a lot of ground to make up and we need to gain this lost ground of the past. And this requires businesses of size, with scale, but above all businesses that invest in modern technology, “the Prime Minister stressed and added:
“And I am particularly pleased because I heard that your next investment is a state-of-the-art logistics centre, an investment of more than 30 million euros to be created in Attica, and this, as I understand it, will be fully automated and compatible, I would say, with the most modern specifications of such centres. For our part, the government must continue to invest. This is precisely to improve the business environment, in simplifying procedures, reduced deductions and levies, but also with significant investment incentives and with training programs.
I think, especially in supporting industry, that “we said it, we did it” is essentially a constant slogan. 20 of the 83 taxes that we have reduced over these seven years are directly related to industry, and I want to take this opportunity to reiterate the government’s policy choice to essentially shift the incentives in the Development Act towards industry and towards manufacturing. It is a conscious choice, which has resulted in 930 investments amounting to €3.1 billion being financed in sectors that we consider to have significant advantages, such as the beverage and food sector, for example.
I should also mention that half of the 18 strategic investments approved in 2026 are in industry, and I should also point out that the Ministry of Development now has a one-stop shop secretariat for private investments, from the reception of their application to their implementation, operating at a much faster speed than in the past. And of course, a priority at this time, are 12 major reforms that reduce the administrative burden on business activity. And I’m referring to issues that I know you are concerned about as well, simpler licensing and facilitating the modernization of existing plants, which is something that is constantly being raised as an issue by organized industry.
On upgrading the whole framework for single-unit business parks, something that this unit here could evolve into as well. In replacing the movement ticket with the digital ticket. And finally, in a very important initiative that has been discussed and maturing for some time, and I’m referring to the Special Land Use Plan for Industry. We are in ongoing discussions with industry representatives. It will be put out to public consultation as soon as possible and this will also close an important pending issue concerning the issues of the organisation of the area. Especially in a country where we do not have such a great culture of industrial parks and where we need to enable existing industries to be able, without major bureaucratic obstacles, to expand at least to adjacent land, which is a long-standing demand of Greek industry.
And something else that is particularly important, because I heard all the previous speakers talk about human resources, the importance I attach to the National Dialogue for the promotion and upgrading of technical professions. We are well aware that the labour market is changing. We are well aware, and you are well aware, that you were looking for more qualified personnel with modern skills.
And we know well that the occupations that can find employment in a manufacturing plant such as the one we are in today are predominantly occupations that come from the field of technical education, which must be supported more and must be made a substantially attractive option for young people who are planning the next steps in their professional careers. We are therefore embarking on a major effort, which, as I said, in order to succeed, we need to break these taboos, which unfortunately still exist, and give technical professions the social value and social recognition they deserve. But I think that employers, and here I’m obviously referring to the big multinationals, but also to the big Greek companies.”
Addressing the executives of Coca Cola Triple Epsilon, the Prime Minister said:
“You are both… You are the largest company on the Greek stock exchange. But you are at the same time a multinational company, which does not forget its roots. But the most important thing for your own success, as you said, after all, is the support of your people, your employees. It is to them that you owe your success. You owe them an investment in their training, in their career path. And obviously a company like yours can give many different career options to a new executive who will start working for you. And obviously, of course, to offer constantly better pay, as well as a modern and safe working environment, with opportunities for development for everyone. I want to remind you that our government, the increase in nominal wages was a central election commitment when the Greek people trusted us, again in 2023, and at that time we committed to an average full-time wage of 1,500 euros in 2027. I am glad, because the Greek economy has already achieved this average full-time wage. And I would say that your company is at the forefront here. You have recognised this need to invest in your people, but also in innovation, and that is why you have been a leading employer consistently over the last few years.
You are also a leading employer that supports the local communities in which you operate. We have 426 employees here in Schimatari, if I’ve got it right, I imagine most of them will be from the wider region, and here your plant is identified with a region that is essentially at the heart of Greek manufacturing.
But I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the wider social contribution of Coca Cola Hellenic and Coca Cola 3E through a number of important corporate and social responsibility actions. Either we are talking about the restoration of areas of Achaia affected by recent fires or we are talking about a very important initiative, which is none other than the protection of the most important olive grove in our country, the olive grove of Amfissa, which was also affected by a fire some years ago. Trees that have been rooted for two thousand years deserve our protection and I thank you for taking on this very important mission to assist us in this project.
I think it is an initiative worthy of a company that is a world leader with a progress obviously that, as I said, creates similar expectations and I will invite you to stand on the same path with ambition and responsibility. I think, and I would like to conclude with this, that our country is moving forward with confidence, having proven that it can overcome crises, that it can turn challenges into opportunities, that it has turned our economy around, that it has laid a solid fiscal foundation. We are now building a future that we want to offer security and prosperity to all Greeks.
This future goes through the private sector, through private investment, which must converge and reach the European average. So, with these thoughts, I would like to congratulate you again, wish you an even more active presence in our country and that you continue to show tangible signs of social sensitivity through the important corporate responsibility actions that you have been developing over the years. Thank you very much,” the Prime Minister concluded.
