“Greece today is a very good destination for investment. First of all, because investment increased by almost 100% between 2019 and 2025. All those who invested saw something in the country. And because of the fixed comparative advantages – geography, human resources, natural resources – have been added two elements that were once lacking: a pro-investment government, with credibility and policy continuity and political stability, something not taken for granted in many European countries.”

This was said today by Kostis Hatzidakis, the deputy prime minister, speaking at the annual conference of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce.

He added that an investor who wants to come to Greece today will find truly unique opportunities, not only in traditionally strong sectors (tourism, construction, shipping), but also in sectors, he said indicatively such as:

– Renewable energy sources, where Greece is a pioneer.
– Networks and transport, where the country is becoming a regional hub.
– Innovation, where we now have one of the most friendly tax regimes in Europe.
– Education, where the first non-state universities are already being established.
– Defence, where Greece is strengthening its industrial base and attracting new investments through international cooperation.

Referring to the relations between Greece and the United States, he stressed that today they are at the strongest point in their modern history, and this is no coincidence.

“In the Southeastern Mediterranean region, Greece is a pillar of stability and the most reliable partner of the United States. We are also seeing a qualitative upgrade of the American business presence in Greece. With increased investments in high-value-added sectors, such as the pharmaceutical industry and, of course, new technologies and data centers,” he stressed, adding: “At the same time, our cooperation in the energy sector is constantly expanding. We are also continuing to expand our cooperation in the field of energy. While Greece is becoming a gateway for American LNG to Southeast and Central Europe. Greece and the US are getting closer, while Greece’s geopolitical position is significantly strengthened. I am convinced that the best is ahead of us. Our bilateral relations will continue to expand. Because the four pillars on which they rest: shared geopolitical interests, economic cooperation, shared values, and the Greek presence in the US are stronger than ever.”

Hatzidakis referred to the progress of the Greek economy in the last six years, which he said was real, substantia,l and not at all self-evident. “If someone told us in 2019 that today Greece:

– It would be growing at several times the European average.
– It would attract a historic record level of investment.
– It would borrow cheaper than countries like France and Italy.
– It would achieve back-to-back firsts in the Economist’s ranking of the world’s best economy [in 2022 and 2023 – while in 2024 we were in 3rd place with Denmark].
– And half a million people would have found jobs.

We would probably call him over-optimistic,” he said. “And if he added that in that time we would be going through an unprecedented pandemic and the biggest inflationary crisis in the last 30 years, then we would probably urge him to ‘come down’ from the clouds and face reality.”

Hatzidakis stressed that the government of New Democracy and Kyriakos Mitsotakis will not jeopardize this progress. “Particularly about fiscal stability – which is something over which we have direct control – our commitment is absolute and non-negotiable. Our country has paid a high price for easy promises. And we now know that growth on credit is not real growth. But also that confidence is hard to gain and very easy to lose,” he stressed.

He reiterated that once the public finances were put in order, the government’s attention is now more focused on what economists call the micro-dimension of the economy: competitiveness, investment, competition, and exports.

“We are not claiming that we are not making mistakes. On the contrary, we prove every day that we learn from them, correct them and move forward,” Hatzidakis said: “Greece today is at a historic turning point. For the first time after decades of instability, crises and uncertainty, we have the opportunity not just to follow developments, but to shape them. The “national alliance of responsibility” I spoke about last year – the alliance between the state, the business community, workers and the Hellenism of the diaspora – remains alive and creative. It can withstand shocks, it can withstand the ravages of time, it can withstand because it has a clear common goal: a Greece that is not afraid of tomorrow, but builds it with confidence.”