Bloomberg
June 14, 2016
Greek startups have weathered political turmoil, violent riots, a withering economy and brinkmanship that nearly drove the country out of the euro. Now, a new round of tax increases may be the last straw for fledgling companies with dreams of making it big.
What startups need is a break, says Vassilis Sioros, chief executive officer of Ardustech P.C., a small company with big plans for the use of olive oil in the pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics industries.
“No startup is asking the government for money,” he said in an interview from Athens. “The state can invest without giving money by allowing startups to pay no tax or social security contributions for one year, or at least reduce them. This can help give at least another year of life to a startup allowing for the creation of one or two more jobs.”
Startups have become a key piece of any revival for Greece’s economy, which has shrunk by more than a quarter since 2008 and where almost 25 percent of the workforce is without a job. The number of such firms has almost doubled each year since 2010. With many still struggling to find funding, startups see the taxes and charges agreed to between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s government and European creditors as adding yet another wrinkle to their already difficult environment.
More
No comments:
Post a Comment