THESSALIA - Economy
Numerous family businesses
Thessalia produces 40% of Greece's cotton, and has attracted a large number of textile mills, with ginning plants accounting for 23% of the national total. Although the region produces 11% of Greece's tobacco, there are only a couple of tobacco-processing plants. The region produces 15% of the national total of cereals (including rice) with 753 200 tonnes in 1997. Cereals account for 60% and industrial crops for 28% of cultivated land, and other major crops include almonds, melons, lentils, apples and pears. Livestock rearing is also well developed, particularly goat and sheep rearing, pig rearing and cattle rearing.
The development of agriculture has made it possible to set up units for the processing of agricultural produce. The main feature of manufacturing in Thessalia is the large number of small family-run businesses. Units employing between one and five people account for 90% of the region's total, whilst some 35 units have 200 employees or more.
Profitable branches of manufacturing include drinks, textiles, metal products, transport equipment and cement.
In 1999, Thessalia accounted for 16% of Greek expenditure on research and development. About 71% of the research and development expenditures came from the higher education sector, 19% from the business enterprise sector and 11% from the government sector.
Thessalia has a good transportation network. Larisa is a hub of Greece's road and rail systems, whilst the port of Volos is one of the largest in the country.
If information is available, please add comments on the following subjects:
- Services
- Productivity, competitiveness, imports/exports/foreign investments
- Restructuring, conversion, privatization (policy, state of progress, etc.)
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