ARSY against the support of Fur from the region!!

Without any prospect the "support" of the fur by the PSDM

In a provocative proposal to the Regional Council, the Regional Governor Mr.. Kasapidis tries once again to premium a productive activity of Kastoria, which has been supported over time, but nevertheless declining. We are talking about the fur industry , which, as the governor himself admits in his presentation, through the figures it provides, that it is a declining industry.

We wonder, par’ all the support efforts made in the industry and while the industry does not seem to have any growth prospects, why support once again this chapter of Kastoria that tends to close.
Εστιάζει εμφατικά μάλιστα, in the difficulties faced by the fur industry with a main cause the “supposedly ecological movement”, as it characterizes it.

We wonder, is “supposedly” η οικολογική μόλυνση του υδροφόρου ορίζοντα της Καστοριάς και της Σιάτιστας από τις δραστηριότητες της γουνοποιητικής επεξεργασίας;
Is “supposedly”, fears about ecological degradation of the region of Korestia, whose residents revolt over setting up a fur farm next to their homes; Is “supposedly” concerns about the ecological impact of the planned “waste burner” from these farms in the area of ​​Mesopotamia Kastoria for energy production;

Such a development is envisioned by Mr.. Kasapidis, which acts as a mouthpiece for the interests of the furriers; He believes that he is consistent in the economic ideology he expresses for a free market; That is, when things go well, then we want less state and less taxes and when jobs “fall out”, then we ask for the help of the state with extraordinary financial aid, which in the end are paid by the employees;

We still wonder what kind of support this will be, when fewer and fewer employees are involved in the industry, obviously due to low earnings, working conditions and poor career prospects in the industry.

What kind of support will this be?, to entrepreneurs who for years have shown that they have decided to relocate to countries with even worse wages and even worse working conditions, such as Turkey, China, even India.
Does anyone believe the truth, that with an IEK apprenticeship department it will upgrade an entire branch, when ATEI departments were created in Kastoria, supposedly linked to fur activity, as e.g.. the international trade department; (International Trade if we are not mistaken, concerns the specific sector and it will be interesting for the rapporteur Mr. to inform us. Kasapidis who likes to mention numbers, what is the number of students in Kastoria, absorbed in the fur industry, in which specialties, with what earnings and what career prospects they had within the fur industry).

Generally all the suggestions that end up, they are not new either, not even original.
Fur apprenticeship schools have already operated in Kastoria in the past (OAED programs). They have already visited in an organized manner, at the expense of the local government, many times, various business missions to Russia.
International fur fairs have been held for years, which work for entrepreneurs better than any conference, for the conclusion of trade relations.

So what are the positions of a strategic and business plan, for a product that one day we have to decide that its expiration date has arrived.
And instead of Kastoria businessmen investing in another productive sector that will bring them profits, as do ubiquitous capitalists everywhere in the world, when their product cannot be pushed to market, ask for state alms, with anachronistic and proven failed arguments.
Kozani 10/11/2021

"Left Coalition for the OVERTURN in Western Macedonia"

The suggestion

Theme: "Discussion and decision-making on the support of the Fur industry".

Recent years, the fur branch, the second largest productive sector of the Region of Western Macedonia, is severely affected. The effects of the complex crisis that exists worldwide, reduce fur exports and in turn reduce productivity and employment. Inherent weaknesses of the industry do not allow small businesses to achieve economies of scale, further reducing the growth of fur. Additional difficulties arising from the so-called ecological movement complicate the position of the fur, making it unattractive for environmental reasons in the eyes of users and ordinary citizens.. These newer artificial obstacles are largely, combined with the economic crisis of the last decade and the recent health crisis of the coronavirus are disproportionately burdening the industry and the people of production who seem unable to overcome them.

Especially in Russia, which is the largest market in the world, after the EU embargo. There is an introverted policy in the field of fur production, with the support of the respective branch from the Russian Government. At the same time, competition from China is intensifying as this Far Eastern country develops its own identity and quality in fur products.. Russia nonetheless, is still the main buyer of fur both in terms of wholesale exports, as well as in terms of retail sales in Greece and mainly in Kastoria.

Branch, operating in the globalized market, presents periodic capacity per year in its evolution, which reached the 2013 to the highest degree of verticalization of production and exports. The total turnover of exports of finished products, fur, retail sales, services etc., ανήλθε για στην πατρίδα μας σε ποσά άνω του μισού δισεκατομμυρίου ευρώ. Οι αντίστοιχες εξαγωγές έξι χρόνια μετά κατακρημνίσθησαν σε ποσά που δεν ξεπερνούν τα πενήντα (50,0) from. euro. This difference in export amounts over a period of about eight (8) years also reflects the dire situation in which this very dynamic sector of our national and local economy has reached. His offer is not limited to jobs, income and product produced, αλλά και άλλες αξίες που σχετίζονται με την ανάδειξη της Δυτικής Μακεδονίας και της Ελλάδας ως ένα παγκόσμιο κέντρο παραγωγής γούνας.

As a minimum indication of recognition of this huge contribution and supply of furriers to the national and local economy, The Greek Government must stand by the workers and the industry in general, in an active way and not in fragments and temporarily. It is necessary to formulate and plan a new strategy and then implement an operational industry support program, by providing incentives and adequate funding for the implementation of this new strategy.

Financial data for the industry.

At the beginning of the 21st century and especially during the years 2001 to 2014, Fur and Fur Manufacturing, always in accordance with the available IFTF data, found over time at the peak of its development. This fact is demonstrated by the fact that she:

• It created a total financial turnover for all sectors, who came to surpass the 11 billion dollars a year. Further analyzing the importance of this financial size, we can claim this by percentage 55% to 60% about, concerns and feeds the primary sector (breeding and other related activities) and against 40% to 45% concerns value added, which is mainly reflected through exports between countries and mainly concerns semi-finished products, ready-made and other consumer products of furs.
• Created a comprehensive SME base with more than 130.000 businesses and others, in all production sectors.
• Create over 2.000.000 jobs regardless of the form of employment, in all production sectors.

The two years 2015 – 2016 new data appeared, which created and brought about rapid developments worldwide, creating a new global crisis in fur and fur industry, which so far extends, expressed and concerned:

• In the very large reduction of purchases from the main Russian market
• To a very large reduction in the production of farmed fur animals.
• In the very big reduction of entrepreneurship, of employment etc..

Kastoria and Siatista are again in the middle of this very big crisis, which, as in the past, are struggling to once again get through as much as possible with the fewest losses and from this crisis. However, για τις πόλεις αυτές συνεχίζει να αποτελεί η γούνα και η γουνοποιία μέχρι και σήμερα τον εξαιρετικά προνομιακό και παραδοσιακό κλάδο των οικονομιών τους.

Indicatively, the fur industry includes the following productive activities and services:

1. The production of food for the breeding of Furry Animals.
2. The breeding of Furry Animals and the production of fur skins.
3. The production by small and medium fur companies of ready-made garments from furskins.
4. The production by small and medium fur companies of ready-made and semi-finished clothes from scraps.
5. The production of raw materials from scraps, as residues from the processing of the production of ready-made and semi-finished garments of fur.
6. Tanning and dyeing.
7. The contract processing.
8. Import and export trade and all services developed around them.

Breeding of fur animals ( farms, pet food, veterinarians, constructions, maintenance etc.)

Βυρσοδεψία ( abrasion, drying, tanneries, classification, paints. haircuts etc.)

Μεταποίηση ( handicrafts, laundries, materials marketing, designers, security etc.)

Wholesale – λιανική πώληση ( show rooms, shop windows, marketing, web stores, reports, shipments etc.)

SECTOR ENTERPRISES

The 1990 branch, in terms of entrepreneurship, knows the greatest flourishing, which peaks in this year and is reflected in the quadrupling of the number of companies, increasing their number on 6.926 in relation to 1973.

The 2007 The numbers confirm the gradual and continuous shrinkage of the production base of M.M.. Business which was formed on 2.241 (Chamber of Kastoria) manufacturing companies.

The 2015 an additional contraction of the production base of M.M. is recorded. Business which was formed on 1.304 (Chamber of Kastoria). For this year, It is pointed out that the further contraction of companies is due solely to the evolving new global financial crisis of fur. Additional evidence suggests that this shrinkage may be even greater by perhaps touching 50% of all registered companies as it has led to the inactivation of the rest 50% of all of them.

Today, Hundreds of workers have fallen into unemployment, ενώ άλλοι έχουν οδηγηθεί στη μετανάστευση και οι επιχειρήσεις γούνας σχεδόν στο σύνολό τους υπολειτουργούν. Κάτω από αυτές τις συνθήκες δεν υπάρχει κανένα περιθώριο ανοχής από τις επιχειρήσεις. The risk of further padlocks is visible, as well as the disappearance of the skilled workforce.

suggestions

Over time, the Greek fur industry has supported the national and local economy with key characteristics. :

• supporting and strengthening local and regional growth and employment.
• the support and positive formation of GDP. of the areas of Kastoria and Siatista, of the Region of Western Macedonia and wider of our Country.
• the support of the trade balance of the Country and the strengthening of this positive surplus due to the universal export character of the fur industry, etc..

The 2020 ξεκίνησε με τις πιο δυσοίωνες εξελίξεις. Coronavirus outbreak leads to postponement of the first fur auction of the year and Hong Kong's largest international fur fair. In a nutshell, January - May is the auction period, which regulate the prices of furskins and the international fairs through which orders are received.

The season started with the worst conditions for the fur companies, without configured prices and orders. This situation is the worst in the history of fur. The turmoil and uncertainty in the world fur trade is a fact. From our contacts with the fur companies we inform you that dismissals have started, which in the next period of time will become massive.

So today, before it's too late, It is imperative that we take seriously the fact that the primary problem is the existence of anemic sales and therefore, Our first concern must be their redeployment. But this fact is intensifying, as fur companies find it difficult to react and cope with the difficult international conditions for the industry.

Αναγκαία προϋπόθεση για τη διεκδίκηση στήριξης από την Κυβέρνηση για τον κλάδο είναι η σωστή διάγνωση των προβλημάτων του, as well as the clear documentation of these causes and their effects on the local community.

The last two years, actions were taken from the side of the Region of Western Macedonia and I mention them briefly:

1. At the request of the Federation, the Region finances a strategic study for the sector, total budget 32.600 euro through technical assistance of the RDP.
2. Small and Medium Enterprises Support Program through which the companies of PE. Kastoria received 11,2 from. euro, which in the vast majority were furry.
3. Business extroversion support program, budget 4.5cm. euro, in which a large part of the applications submitted concerns export companies of the sector.
4. Unblocking the financing of training seminars for employees in fur companies amounting to 1.5m. euro, that were stopped for 2 years.
5. Investment financing by the development law, which was unduly delayed for 6 years. It concerned 26 companies with a budget of 6.1m euros. The 21 of these were industry companies that were paid after our actions with 4,45 from. euro.

After that:

I INTRODUCE

1. The submission of a proposal to the Ministry of Development and Investment with the participation of all stakeholders, to draw up and fund a comprehensive strategic and then business plan for the industry.
2. The discussion with all the parties of the Parliament to support them in the demands of the sector, with corresponding discussions in the relevant parliamentary committees.
3. The holding of an International Conference in Kastoria within the next six months, with the support of the Region.
4. The organization of a business mission of Western Macedonia to Russia, in collaboration with E.B.E.. and in consultation with our Embassy in Moscow and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
5. The preparation for the creation of a department of public IEK for the integrated education in the modern data, furriers and fur traders in Kastoria and Siatista.

Please accept my suggestion from the Regional Council of Western Macedonia.