1 minute read
H.E. Mr. Adonis Georgiadis
PREFACE
In the dawn of 2022 the relationship between Greece and Arab countries is flourishing. Bilateral cooperation has been significantly upgraded in all aspects (politics, economy, defence, security, energy, investments and many more) and there is strong will to further promote investment initiatives and connectivity projects. There is huge potential not only to enhance bilateral trade and investment flows both ways but for the dynamic private sector to cooperate and seize business opportunities in the wider area. For example, Greece’s position as an entry point of clean energy into the European market and as the frontrunner in “knowledge-based” economy in South Eastern Europe – let me stress the huge investments in R & D and data centers from behemoths such as Microsoft, Pfizer, Cisco, Digital Realty – pave the way for developing mutual high-yielding business projects. Furthermore, Greece is now in a dynamic growth trajectory and emerges as a top investment destination worldwide. Having recorded a significant leap by 77% in attracting foreign direct investments (FDI’s) in 2020, Greece is, for the first time, among the 10 most attractive investment destinations in Europe, according to the Ernst & Young (ΕΥ) Competiveness Survey 2021 and is heading to a record inflow of FDIs in 2021. The supportive macro and political environment, the enormous pool of talent, the purely pro-business and innovation-led government, the improving business climate through slashing taxes and social security contributions and cutting down redtape, the 57 billion euros National Recovery and Resilience Fund, the 27 billion EU structural funds, the bold privatizations and PPP’s program, all these highlight Greece’s comparative advantages and herald a new era for Greek economy. In this framework, energy and especially renewables, research and innovation, IT, military and pharmaceutical industries, logistics, real estate, tourism, food, agriculture, aquaculture, water management, construction and infrastructure are among Greece’s promising sectors for successful investments with hefty returns. So, I strongly believe that investors from the Arab world, having strong incentives to invest in Greece, are going to grasp this historic opportunity. To that direction ArabHellenic Chamber of Commerce & Development has a significant role and I would like to highlight its constructive contribution to strengthen ties between business communities on both sites.
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