At the beginning of each new year, most of us are full of hope and anticipation, putting concerns and problems out of our minds and making resolutions to do things differently. For many, however, this positive mood lasts only for a short while, and soon after the holidays, that optimism and enthusiasm give way to routine and the established patterns of day to day life. These past few weeks, I’ve been thinking about how differently we might behave and act if we saw every new day as the first day of the year—if we started each new day still holding on to that optimism and positive attitude.
This year, 2024, is set to be particularly interesting. Critical elections are coming up in the US and Europe. There are growing geopolitical conflicts, some of them with asymmetric threats, in many parts of the world. The cost of living crisis continues. The frequency of extreme weather phenomena and natural disasters is on the rise. And the world is constantly bombarded with an endless stream of information and news, both true and false. Each on their own, and certainly combined, these developments stand to bring significant upheavals in the policies followed today and to change not only our world but also life as we know it. This is particularly so for Europe which, due to an unproductive polyphony and a lack of leadership policies needed for a common vision and orientation, is lagging and struggling to find its footing in a competitive global environment with new emerging economies. Meanwhile, the growing lack of trust in institutions and policies, a result of growing social inequalities and unequal distribution of wealth, runs like a red thread through it all, giving rise to populist tendencies and undermining fundamental values and principles.
You may think, dear readers, that the picture I just described for 2024 is not consistent with how I started this article. But that isn’t so. Because the more of us that hold on to optimism and to the desire to do things differently, get creative and build on that positive energy, the more things can change for the better. Wonderful things are happening out there, things that are worth fighting for and sharing with the world. We live on a beautiful planet, and we must do whatever it takes to protect it and pass it on to our children.
In this spirit of hope and commitment to contributing to a better tomorrow, our Chamber continues its creative work, exploring new horizons and forging new paths as conditions dictate. We pledge to continue building bridges, fostering partnerships, and championing the values that make our business community strong and the future brighter.
With a big smile, we wish you all a successful and fulfilling new year.
ELIAS SPIRTOUNIAS
Executive Director
