Prefecture of Magnesia

The Strategic Development Plan of Magnesia, Greece

2007-13

Regional Profile of Magnesia

• A dynamic coastal region located in Thessaly, at the center of Greece, Magnesia was once the mythic land of Jason, the Argonauts and the Centaurs.

• Endowed by nature with a very diverse environment, including the famous Mt. Pelion, the picturesque Sporades islands, a long coastal line and many sandy beaches.

• Favored by a modest Mediterranean climate the region has been inhabited for over 5000 years and has a unique pre-historic and historic heritage.

Regional Profile of Magnesia (2)

Today Magnesia is one of the most developed region of Greece, offering high living standards and specializing in Industry, Services, Tourism and Higher Education.

Quality of infrastructure in Magnesia

• Excellent road connections at the national and European level (E75 and E65)

• Two Airports • Many Ports and Port

connections. • Train connections with

major national cities.• Hydroplane connections

Urban amenities

Volos, the capital of the region, is a

coastal lively city of 150.000 inhabitants.

The city offers excellent living conditions

and services, maintains a strong

industrial tradition and is developing a

dynamic science base in Central

Greece.

The industrial sector of Magnesia • One of the largest industrial regions in Greece, with

industry accounting for about 40% of regional GDP. • A well trained labor force. • Three organized Industrial Zones hosting many

National or European champions. • A very diverse industrial base with business in virtually

all sectors of production• Strong specializations in the Food and Drink, Non-

Ferrous Metals, Metals and Metal Products, Chemicals and Machinery sectors.

The industrial base of Magnesia (2)• Magnesia host international business like:

Lafarge Coca Cola Knauff Biomar Barilla Group SEDA Group Arcelor Mittal Group

• The region has a very active Industrial Association and a Euro-Info Center

The tourist sector in Magnesia

• One of the most popular tourist destinations in Greece.

• Mt. Pelion and the Sporades islands (Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos) offer a great variety of summer and winter, sea and mountain tourism opportunities.

• A strong tourist industry providing a capacity of 18.700 beds, of which 4.000 are in 4 & 5 stars hotels.

The tourist sector in Magnesia (2)

• Visitors arrive by air, sea and land, making increasing use of the two international airports (Aghialos and Skiathos) of the region.

• In the last years, International Cruisers have included the Port of Volos in their popular destinations.

• The availability of Conference centers and accommodation of high quality have made Magnesia a popular international conference destination.

The Science Base of Magnesia

• Magnesia is home of the University of Thessaly, a dynamic research and higher education institution with Faculties in Engineering, Agriculture, Medicine, Economics, Education and Humanities.

• The University has over 120 Research Laboratories, more than 700 Faculty members, 6.000 undergraduate and more than 1.000 graduate students.

The Science Base of Magnesia (2)• The Technology Park of Thessaly is

responsible for technology transfer to business and operates a small business incubator.

• The newly established in Magnesia by the Ministry of Development Center for Research and Technological Development of Thessaly is actively engaged in applied research aiming to improve the innovative capacity of local firms.

National Comparisons

Magnesia is at the top places in the ranking of the 51 Greek regions with respect to a number of critical indicators, such as industrial size, higher education, GDP, income, population growth, accessibility and health services.

Place of Magnesia in the National Ranking of 51 NUTS III Regions in Greece

Indicators Place

Size of Industrial sector, 2004-6 3

Share of Industry in GDP, 2002-4 3

Urban Population, 2001 4

Population with Higher Education, 2001 5

Taxable Income per capita, 2003-5 6

Population Growth 1961-2006 8

GDP per capita, 2002-4 9

Population Density, 2005-7 9

Centrality index, 2001 11

Hospital Beds per capita, 2003-5 11

International Comparisons

The region of Magnesia

has a comparable or

higher development level

than many well known

investment and tourist

destinations in Central,

Eastern and Southern

Europe.

NUTSIII GDP per capita

2004 (€)

European Union (27) 21.503

Sevilla (ES) 17.103

Magnesia (GR) 16.733

Martinique (FR) 15.973

Salerno (IT) 15.572

Grande Porto (PT) 15.751

Kraków (PL) 16.914

Vilnus (LT) 15.754

Sofia (BG) 13.599

Bucuresti (RO) 14.425

The strategy and goals of development• Take advantage of the diverse and

dynamic economic base, the endowments and advantages of the natural environment, the quality of human resources, geography, accessibility and infrastructure in order to achieve :

• Convergence with the EU-27 average level of development

• A sustainable pattern of development in all sectors

• Internal social and spatial cohesion

The Vision of Development:

A significant industrial complex in Southeastern Europe

A leading center of advanced services, education, research and technology

A region with diverse year-long tourist and recreation activities, based on the advantages and opportunities offered by culture, history and the environment.

A region of environmentally sensitive agriculture.

A high quality residential area in a diverse and protected natural environment.

A growth pole in Central Greece

The General Axes of Development 1. Improve entrepreneurship,

competitiveness, innovation and eliminate digital divide.

2. Improve accessibility, infrastructure and economic services.

3. Improve natural, human and cultural environment.

4. Develop human resources and increase employment.

5. Improve Local Governance and the administrative capacity and efficiency of public sector.

6. Improve inter-regional cooperation and spatial cohesion.

Ten Priorities for Development1. Modernize Train infrastructure.2. Upgrade Airport infrastructure and connections.3. Upgrade local and regional road connections.4. Develop specialized infrastructure and services in the

Ports of Magnesia.5. Develop sustainable and spatially balanced tourism.6. Complete the Karla Lake regeneration project.7. Develop a new Business and Technology Park. 8. Develop new Research Infrastructure and excellence

in Higher Education. 9. Develop the least advanced areas of the region. 10.Develop environmental infrastructure.

Advantages of Living, Working, Visiting and Doing Business in Magnesia

• Excellent living conditions, combining a human-scale lively urban with a unique surrounding environment.

• High quality of labor force with industrial skills and a growing scientific community.

• High quality productive infrastructure and business environment that promotes. entrepreneurship and attracts international and national investment.

• An environment with unique aesthetic and quality that attracts tourists.

Prefecture of Magnesia

The Strategic Development Plan of Magnesia, Greece

2007-13