The government’s vision <\/b> for the transformation of the country, and in particular Thessaloniki<\/b>, into a central geostrategic and economic hub of the wider region was presented by Giorgos Gerapetritis<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Greece is currently in the strongest position in recent decades, having turned successive crises into opportunities and shaping the conditions for it to become the “gateway of the East and South to Europe<\/b>” in the coming years. This is what Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis<\/b> said from Thessaloniki, speaking at Grant Thornton’s “Thessaloniki 4.0: Innovation & Investment in a Challenging Global Environment” event.<\/p>\n
Mr. Gerapetritis described an international environment of unprecedented uncertainty, geopolitical upheavals and economic challenges, arguing however that Greece has managed to shield itself economically, energetically and diplomatically, becoming one of the safest investment destinations in the West.<\/p>\n
At the same time, he predicted that the country would become a key player in the new international trade and energy corridors, acting as a bridge between Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India.<\/p>\n
Mr. Gerapetritis began his speech by describing the new international reality as an environment of constant volatility and vulnerability, in which the ability to predict has been dramatically reduced.<\/p>\n
As he noted, governments and international organizations are now finding it difficult to plan even short-term scenarios, as global developments are influencing each other with unprecedented speed. At the same time, geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, upheavals in the global economy and the return of state protectionism are altering facts that were previously considered constants of the international order.<\/p>\n
According to the minister, Europe is now facing a historic challenge, as for decades it has focused on the functioning of the internal market rather than on strengthening its competitiveness and strategic autonomy vis-\u00e0-vis international powers such as the United States, China, R As he said, the Greek economy did not just emerge from a period of recession but from a situation that threatened its very survival. Today, instead of the public debate revolving around the risk of collapse, the focus is on the transformation of the production model and the formulation of a new growth strategy.<\/p>\n
The minister acknowledged that there are still significant structural weaknesses, such as the one-sided productive base of the economy, but argued that the country is showing resilience and positive performance even in the face of international instability.<\/p>\n
The minister placed particular emphasis on the country’s energy transformation. He recalled that a few years ago Greece was almost entirely dependent on Russian gas. However, within a short period of time, Greece has managed to diversify its energy mix, increase the participation of renewable energy sources and develop new interconnection infrastructures.<\/p>\n
As he said, the country has evolved from a net importer of energy to a net exporter, while today it is the most important energy hub in Southeast Europe. Greece, he noted, provides energy security to its neighbours through natural gas pipelines, electricity interconnections and investments in renewable energy sources, acquiring a strategic role that is recognised by both European partners and the countries of the region.<\/p>\n
Gerapetritis described outward-looking as a key pillar of the country’s economic policy from 2019 onwards. He explained that the government has created a new model for promoting investment and exports through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, linking economic diplomacy with foreign policy. The results, according to him, are already visible. Foreign direct investment has increased by about 50 percent, while Greek exports as a percentage of GDP have doubled.<\/p>\n
At the same time, the country has moved to create an institutional framework to control investment in critical infrastructure in order to prevent geopolitical risks and enhance the security of investment capital. “If you ask an investor, he will tell you that Greece is currently one of the safest investment destinations in the West,” he said.<\/p>\n
The minister argued that investment activity depends not only on microeconomic conditions but also on the overall picture of the economy. He said that Greece currently has the largest reduction in public debt in Europe, the largest reduction in unemployment and growth rates significantly higher than the European average.<\/p>\n
In the same context, he stressed that the country’s borrowing costs have improved significantly, reaching levels comparable to those of France and more favourable than other major European economies. In the same context, he included the recent election of the Greek Finance Minister to the Eurogroup presidency, describing it as a vote of confidence in the Greek economy and a confirmation of the country’s credibility in international markets.<\/p>\n
A part of the speech was devoted to the country’s geopolitical upgrade. Gerapetritis argued that Greece currently has the strongest diplomatic footprint in decades. He cited the country’s election to the UN Security Council, its contribution to the formation of the Recovery and Resilience Fund, as well as its active participation in European initiatives on common defence and strategic autonomy.<\/p>\n
In addition, he noted that Greece has developed strategic relations with the United States, Israel, the Gulf countries, India and North African states, while it continues to expand its network of partnerships in the wider region. According to him, the country now has the potential to act as a factor of stability and security in the Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.<\/p>\n
In the most telling part of his speech, the Foreign Minister outlined the role the country aspires to play in the coming years. As he said, Greece will evolve into the “gateway of the East and South to Europe”, taking advantage of its geographical position and new energy and trade infrastructure.<\/p>\n
He made special reference to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), in which Greece aspires to become the main European hub, and to the electrical interconnections with Egypt for the transfer of green energy. At the same time, he noted that the country will strengthen its role in the vertical energy corridor to Romania, Moldova and Ukraine, while it will continue to invest in its defence autonomy and regional security.<\/p>\n
Closing his speech, Mr Gerapetritis acknowledged that geopolitical and economic risks remain strong, especially due to developments in the Middle East and the ongoing price stability. However, he expressed confidence that Greece will continue on the path of stability and growth it has charted in recent years.<\/p>\n
At the same time, he warned that the greatest danger for the country is not external but internal, citing the risk of economic populism, political nihilism and easy promises, which he said have historically led the country into crises. “The risks are there, but there is also the firm will to turn them into opportunities,” he said, calling on the state and the business world to work together so that economic growth is accompanied by social cohesion and delivers a substantial dividend to citizens.<\/p>\n
In this way, he concluded, Greece can maintain its position as a strong economy, a reliable investment destination and a strategic pillar of stability in the wider region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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