By Spyros Kokkolis– Executive Vice Chairman, ElvalHalcor
The global economy has entered a period in which resilience can no longer be taken for granted. Geopolitical tensions, energy volatility, supply chain disruptions and shifting trade dynamics have shown that competitiveness is not defined only by market access or cost efficiency. It is also defined by the ability of economies to produce, adapt and remain strategically relevant.
This is why industry has returned to the center of Europe’s agenda. Concepts such as security, autonomy and self-sufficiency are no longer abstract policy terms. They are now directly linked to productive capacity, technological capability and the strength of industrial ecosystems. For Europe, and especially for Greece, the challenge is clear: the next phase of growth cannot rely only on consumption or services. It must be built on a stronger productive base.
For Greece, this is not a theoretical discussion. The country has long debated the need to change its productive model. The priority now is to move from discussion to implementation. A more resilient economy requires more production, higher added value and stronger exports. None of these can be achieved without a stronger manufacturing sector.
Today, manufacturing represents only 9.2% of Greece’s GDP, compared with a European average of 14.1%. This gap points to a broader structural issue: the Greek economy continues to depend heavily on activities with lower productivity and weaker export intensity. Strengthening industry is therefore not a narrow sectoral objective. It is a national growth priority, directly linked to aligning with Europe, income growth and long-term economic resilience.
At ElvalHalcor, resilience is the result of long-term strategy. It is built through sustained investment, technological upgrading, operational excellence and international orientation. The company operates in two metals that sit at the core of the major global transitions: aluminium and copper. Both are essential to the energy transition, the circular economy and the infrastructure of the future.
Aluminium supports sustainable packaging, transport, shipbuilding, lighter structures and lower-carbon applications. Copper is critical for electricity grids, renewables, electromobility, heat pumps, telecommunications, batteries and data centres. These materials are not simply part of traditional industrial production. They are enablers of the technologies and infrastructure that will define the next decade.
Their importance is also strategic. Aluminium and copper can remain in the productive cycle through recycling and the use of secondary raw materials, reducing the need for primary production, lowering energy consumption and limiting environmental impact. For Europe, circularity is not only an environmental priority. It is also a way to reduce dependencies and strengthen industrial autonomy.
The same logic applies to technology. Artificial intelligence is already changing modern industry, but its real value lies in practical application. In a production environment, AI matters when it improves quality, supports predictive maintenance, enhances workplace safety, optimises energy use and turns data into better decisions. It is not a substitute for human expertise. It is a tool that strengthens it.
Ultimately, the future of industry will be shaped by companies that can combine productivity with responsibility. Strong economic performance and social contribution are not separate goals. A healthy industrial company supports employment, skills, suppliers, public revenues and local communities. Through “By your side, delivering value,” ElvalHalcor continues to support the communities in which it operates, while investing in people, responsible production and a lower environmental footprint.
The real balance is not between growth and responsibility. It is about recognising that they are part of the same strategy: a stronger industry, a more resilient economy and a more sustainable future.