Mitsotakis’s call to French businessmen: ‘We want you to be part of the Greek success story’

The delegation of the French Business Movement, which met today at the Maximos Palace with the Prime Minister, expressed their interest in the new perspectives that are being created and their confidence in the long-term stability, sustainability and growth potential of the Greek economy.

The meeting with Mr. Mitsotakis was attended by representatives of some of the largest French companies, headed by MEDEF President Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux. The delegation included other senior members of the association, including L’Oreal president Jean-Paul Agon, as well as executives representing Airbus, Bollore, Bouygues Batiment International, Egis, Fives, Galileo Global, Idemia, Iveco France, Louis Dreyfus Armateurs Group, Naval Group, Ratp Development, Safran, Saur International, Sulo, Thales and Vinci Concessions.

“Greece-France relationship is special. It is special on a political level. As you know, I signed a strategic partnership agreement with President Macron last year in Paris, which is particularly important for France’s geopolitical presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. With the President Macron I have a very personal and close relationship, he is the most popular foreign leader in Greece and I would say that France is probably the most popular country in Greece, which I think you should consider when you are thinking or expanding your presence. “or to be more active in Greece”, stressed the Prime Minister. “The message you received, that Greece is back, is the truth. This clearly shows the overall performance of macroeconomic indicators, but it is also the feeling you get when you just travel around the country,” he added.

According to information, the French businessmen stated that they were “impressed with the air of change” that is blowing in Greece, pointing out that the investment interest is returning to the country, as a result of the work of the Greek government. “If you look at the number of foreign companies, not just French, investing in Greece, it is really remarkable how quickly this change was achieved. And what is also interesting is that foreign companies are not only investing in areas where Greece has had a traditional “Comparative advantage, such as tourism and possibly renewable energy sources. They also look at the fields of high technology, logistics, education, health, attaching value to the fact that this country has a very high quality human resources”, noted Kyriakos Mitsotakis, presenting the prospects of the Greek economy and the current reform program that makes the country a competitive investment destination. The Prime Minister particularly stressed the problem of energy costs and reiterated that a solution must be sought at European level. “We have recently introduced a very dynamic and substantial package to reduce our country’s electricity bills. But I also expect Europe to coordinate our actions and understand that this is a European challenge that requires a European response. We did it last year with the Fund. “Recovery and the NextGenerationEU package. I think we need to do it again for energy,” he said.

On behalf of SEV, the Deputy General Manager of the Association, George Xirogiannis, and Efthymios Vidalis, Chairman of the Executive Committee, participated. The Head of the Finance Office of the Prime Minister Alexis Patelis was also present at the meeting.

The entire introductory position of the Prime Minister:

“I’m glad to welcome you here. Thank you very much for your visit. Thank you for your kind words and I’m glad you had a productive visit so far. Indeed, the message you received, that Greece is back, is the truth This is clearly demonstrated by the overall performance of macroeconomic indicators, but it is also the feeling you get when you just travel around the country, when you talk to the average citizen, not just ministers, your business partners.

And I know that many of you have been active in Greece for many years and I would like to thank the companies that remained in Greece during the very difficult second decade of the 21st century, when we experienced our own “financial nightmare”. French companies remain committed to Greece and it is something we appreciate very much.

I would also like to point out that the Greece-France relationship is special. It is special on a political level. As you know, I signed a strategic partnership agreement with President Macron last year in Paris, which is particularly important for France’s geopolitical presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.

I have a very personal and close relationship with President Macron. It is the most popular foreign leader in Greece and I would say that France is probably the most popular country of all in Greece, something that I think you should take into account when thinking about either expanding your presence or being more active in Greece.

We are now in the midst of radical geopolitical change, facing major challenges in terms of energy costs and inflation. But this crisis, I believe, should not overshadow the overall achievements of the country in the last three years. When we took over the government, we had received a very clear mandate from the Greek people for change: sustainable development, improving the disposable income of Greeks, reducing taxes, attracting investment and reducing unemployment by creating new, well-paid jobs.

And despite all the difficulties, we have responded to this order so far. I’m sure you know the overall performance of the economy, but I would like to emphasize the reduction in unemployment, which has been remarkable. And the course of unemployment is declining, so that we can reduce it to single digits. This is due to the inflow of foreign investments in the country, but also the revitalization of Greek companies. We always had to overcome the great challenge of bridging a very deep investment deficit. If you look at investment as a percentage of GDP in Greece, it was very low compared to the EU average.

But that is changing. If you look at the number of foreign companies, not just French, that invest in Greece, it is really remarkable how quickly this change was achieved. And what is also interesting is that foreign companies do not only invest in sectors where Greece has had a traditional comparative advantage, such as tourism and possibly renewable energy sources. They also look at the fields of high technology, logistics, education, health, really attaching value to the fact that this country has very high quality human resources.

Therefore, the reason why people invest in Greece today is not only because we have great weather and because, in my opinion, our tourism product is unbeatable. They do not invest in our country just because we have plenty of wind and solar energy. There are other countries that have similar advantages. But what they find in Greece is a highly trained and specialized workforce. Young Greeks, very willing to work hard to ensure that they can build a better future for themselves and their families. And many of them, as you pointed out, are currently outside Greece and want to return.

So we have a pool of skilled labor of 500,000 young Greeks who left during the crisis years and for the first time seek to return. And sometimes the easiest way to get back is to work for a big foreign company like yours. This makes the transition much smoother. Overall, then, we have reason to be pleased with the performance of the economy. But we are also very aware of the difficulties we face.

We are very concerned about the rising cost of energy. We recently introduced a very dynamic and substantial package to reduce electricity bills in our country and to disconnect gas prices from those of electricity, something that had brought household electricity bills to a level that could not be serviced. But of course, I also expect Europe to coordinate our actions and understand that this is a European challenge that requires a European response. We did it last year with the Recovery Fund and the NextGenerationEU package. I think we need to do it again for energy.

Otherwise, we will give more arguments to the populists that exist in all societies, so that they can attack us and suggest their very simplistic recipes as unfounded solutions to very complex problems. But ultimately, it is a project that involves the long-term transformation of the whole country. I have always been very clear that when we talk about the reforms we need to implement, this is a plan that, we hope, has created a completely different Greece by 2030. By then, we must have surpassed most of our EU partners and really reformed the country. . To radically change the way we operate, the way we work with the state, the way we use digital technology and adopt the green transition. This is something that is still of great interest to us.

And I think our staff is very focused on its goal and very active. I believe that we have created a good team and we are all dedicated to our work for the transformation of the country. And honestly, we all want you to be part of our success story and present these arguments to smaller companies as well. I will be very happy to visit you in France, if my schedule allows. The big companies, I believe, know what is happening in Greece, but there are a number of companies under the big multinationals, which have the opportunity to invest abroad and could turn to Greece or the Balkans. Because Greece is a gateway to the Balkans, the Middle East, North Africa, and is a natural base for the expansion of their activities. So, please convey this invitation to your partners and we will be very happy to welcome even more French companies in Greece.

The Ambassador does an excellent job for you and is – as he should be – a strong supporter of French business interests in our country. But I will close with what I said at the beginning. Greece and France share a special relationship and a special bond that creates a very positive atmosphere when French companies invest or do business in Greece. And of course, some of you have appreciated our country so much that you have also learned the language. We certainly do not expect all of you to do the same, but it is never too late!

We treat Greece not just as a country where you can spend wonderful summer vacations, but as a country where you can live all year round. A country where you can grow your business. And, of course, a country that, as I said, is the basis for your further expansion throughout our region. ”