Thessaloniki - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (ERBD) wrapped up a first-ever seminar in Thessaloniki on entrepreneurship for Ukrainian citizens, who are beneficiaries of temporary protection in Greece. 

The 32 Ukrainian participants in the three-day seminar benefitted from the expertise of experienced lawyers and business consultants from “EY Greece”, who shared knowledge about the entrepreneurial landscape in Greece, the opportunities and challenges of the Greek labor market, and provided guidance on how to develop their own business activities. 

"From today's workshop, my goal is to gain practical knowledge on how to integrate more effectively into the Greek labour market. Although I have some previous experience in Greece, I recognize that each country presents unique characteristics and challenges in the field of job opportunities," said Mariia Spasibo from Ukraine. "My goal is to understand the current state of the Greek labour market and identify areas that need new and innovative ideas. 

The seminar was organized under IOM’s HELIOS national funded project, which supports the integration of beneficiaries of international and temporary protection into the Greek society.  

Workshop participants worked on the creation of a business plan, discussed the characteristics of the business ecosystem in Greece, and were informed about the basic legal and tax framework that governs the types of businesses in the country.  

The seminar was opened by the Deputy Mayor of Social Policy, Solidarity and Welfare of Thessaloniki, Efthimios Hadjitheoklitos and the Consul of Ukraine in Thessaloniki, Yevhen Shkvyra. 

The initiative was the result of a two-year cooperation between IOM and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in the framework of the HELIOS project funded by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. The joint effort aims to develop entrepreneurial and digital skills for the smooth integration of Ukrainian citizens into the Greek labor market. 

 For more information, contact Christine Nikolaidou, IOM Greece, cnikolaidou@iom.int