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Professionals from public and private entities had the opportunity to be informed about the development prospects created by the adoption of business ethics, through which it is possible to prevent and reduce corruption. The workshop organized by the NTA in the context of its participation in the 85th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) on the topic "Business Integrity: Business ethics as a factor for growth". At the same time, the important role of business integrity as a necessary condition for the country's development was highlighted.
The event was addressed by the Minister of Development and Investment Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, noting that “Business ethics is the be-all and end-all. For the market to exist and function, it must have rules, it must ensure fair competition. If a company lacks business ethics and violates market rules, it distorts the market, destroys free business activity and ultimately harms our national economy as a whole. Business ethics is not just a matter of doing the right thing and acting fairly; it is also a matter of economics. Without business ethics, a country's economy can never really progress. You see that the states with the greatest economic development in the world are those with strict rules that are followed, and if a company does not follow them, it is subject to very high penalties. Some people think that all these strict rules create competitive disadvantages, but if you look at the world economic map, the greatest economic progress occurs only in these economies. In contrast, economies where the law of the jungle prevails and each company can pursue its own interests by any means. necessary remain in a state of permanent decline, corruption and regression. For those of us who have chosen as a government that Greece should follow the path of progress and success, implementing and ensuring that rules of business ethics are applied in our country is a top and critical issue. From today's workshop it is important to understand how important the application of the rules of fair competition and transparency is for our own economic success, and how those who violate these rules not only harm their neighbors, but the entire Greek economy and our society”.
The Deputy Minister of Interior, Responsible for Macedonia and Thrace, Mr. Stavros Kalafatis noted that “In the competitive business environment that is emerging, the companies that will be the leaders in the coming years are those that implement the following three principles: Ethical Corporate Governance - Creative Corporate Social Responsibility - Environmental policy”. He added “It is therefore obvious that business ethics is a holistic culture and approach, which modern companies must not only incorporate into their value system, but also communicate to their employees. This becomes even more imperative after the decade-long economic crisis and the pandemic pressure on the global economies”.
The President of the Thessaloniki Municipal Council, Mr. Petros Lekakis, noted that “Business Ethics should be a culture that permeates through practices within the internal environment of the organization and then manifests itself in its external environment. The cost of complying with ethical and legal rules is particularly high. However, the benefits of applying the principles of business ethics are much greater". He went on to state that "In order to avoid any cynical conclusion, I argue that it is through significant reforms in the state and economy, reforms that will liberate and strengthen healthy social and business forces and remove a web of unfair privileges, that we must move to a healthier and fairer environment. In this way, business ethics will certainly be strengthened and this will bring multiplier benefits for Greek society”.
Professor of Economics at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Mr. Dimitrios Kousenidis noted that “The global financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic have shown that businesses need to adapt to the challenges of a sustainable and resilient economy. Businesses need to move away from purely financial goals and shift to actions concerning the environment, society and governance. This creates new growth opportunities that are beneficial for both business and society as a whole”.
The MP of Fthiotida SY.RIZ.A.-Progressive Alliance and Deputy Minister of Development and Investments, Ioannis Sarakiotis, during his speech, referred to the inseparable connection of the concept of ‘Business Ethics’ with the successful course of modern businesses, while he mentioned as axes the respect for labor rights, the protection of the environment and the respect for the principles of democracy and human rights. He emphasized: “In the globalized environment with multiple information channels, a company’s reputation and credibility are linked to its profile and thus attract or repel customers accordingly. The working environment a company offers reinforces this image and also strengthens employees' belief in the company’s shared business vision. Our country needs to do much more in the field of protecting labor relations”.
Mrs Themis Efthychidou, General Secretary of Industry, referred to the imperative need for the application of business ethics in the era of sustainable development, climate change and environmental degradation. And the benefits of applying the principles of business ethics to the workplace and the natural environment clearly outweigh the potential compliance costs that businesses are likely to face. She noted that "A rapidly emerging trend of late is the adoption of ESG criteria in investment decisions. These criteria are Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance. In essence, ESG defines three key factors for measuring the ethical and environmental impact of an investment in a company or business and is an increasingly popular way for investors to evaluate companies in which they may want to invest”.
Mr Simeon Diamantidis, Financial Supervisor of SEVE, stressed during his presentation that “Business ethics is about doing the right things as a business, operating with transparency and honesty, being responsible for your actions and mistakes. With technology as an ally, the country's exporting companies need to strategically develop their business ethics, which will be beneficial in enhancing their outward orientation”.
Mr. Angelos Binis, NTA Governor, referring to the Authority’s mission to investigate fraud and corruption incidents, to develop prevention and deterrence policies, as well as to raise awareness among citizens and businessmen about the benefits of a society that will not tolerate misconduct and corruption. Mr Binis stressed that “It is important for all of us to promote a model based on integrity, transparency and accountability that will help the country to deal with the consequences of the pandemic, using the resources of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). It is a joint effort, involving both the private and public sectors, without political bias, that will generate social benefits and reduce social inequalities for all”.
During the discussion, an online voting was conducted through the online application "Mentimeter", the results of which stimulated an interesting exchange of views between the speakers.
The debate was moderated by journalist Virginia Dimaresi (Status FM Thessaloniki).