Industry provides 10.4% of GDP

In its quarterly report on Tuesday, the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) highlighted the growing contribution of Greek manufacturing to the country's gross domestic product, noting that it reached 10.4% in the second quarter, much higher than the 8.6% rate in the second quarter of 2009.

"Manufacturing labor productivity has returned to and even exceeded its level before the triple crisis (financial, debt and banking) that hit our country in 2010," the report notes. "This is due to various causes and factors, such as the strong export nature of the sector, the absorption of significant investments from the Recovery Fund, spending on research and development combined with fewer working hours."

Also, the report states that due to increased productivity, the average wage in the manufacturing sector significantly exceeds the average monthly salary for the economy as a...