ASSOCIATION OF INDUSTRIES OF THESSALY AND CENTRAL GREECE

Association of Industries of Thessaly and Central Greece (AITCG) is a Legal non-profit entity, operating under Private Law, established in 1966 in Volos, covering mainly, the geographic regions of Thessaly and Sterea Ellada. AITCG is the main union organization of manufacturing companies in both regions, and a dynamic regional Association of the country.
AITCG is a strong partner for both private and public sector in regional and national level. It has signed several important MoUs, with Public Sector, Regional Authorities, major Business Organisations, Economic and Academic Institutions in order to promote entrepreneurship.
The Association participates in National and European Programmes, aiming at amplifying the competitiveness of business sector. Through its scientific departments, including EEN, provides high quality services, such as business development, access to finance, partnering opportunities, innovation and technology transfer to industrial SMEs of all sectors of activities, startups, tourism sector, and services. It organises and implements information awareness events, such as seminars, European campaigns, business symposia, thematic workshops. It regularly monitors the business environment through the preparation of studies, based on local, regional and national statistical data. It has developed a strong relationship to Academia and Research Institutes, strengthening the links of business and academic community, in order to promote technology transfer and innovation. The Association contributes to the public consultation, in national and european level, in order to express the views of business sector. In regular basis, disseminates information on National and Community Legislation, including taxation, Labour and Insurance, tender proclamation, circular economy, access to finance, digitalisation, partnering opportunities and access to new markets, national and European programmes, Brokerage Events and Missions, etc.
Since the start of the pandemic, AITCG has developed a service, addressed to SMEs, providing information and assistance for the business recovery measures, adapted in national and European level, in order to contribute to the resilience of the greek enterprises.
From 1990 to 2007, AITCG hosted the European Information Centre GR162, and since 2008, participates in the Greek consortium Enterprise Europe Network – Hellas. Being a member of the EIC and EEN Network, the Association, has developed strong synergies in local, national and European level, providing tailor-made services to SMEs. Since 2015, the Association has formed a strategic collaboration with PRAXI Network, aiming to expand the provided services, in innovation and technology.
In 1996, in order to facilitate the access of SMEs to funding programmes, AITCG in cooperation with ALPHA BANK SA established AEDEP (Development European Programs Management Company) a member of EFEPAE, Intermediary Agency for Operational Programmes of Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship.
Association’s operation activities are certified by ISO 9001:2015.