Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras took the opportunity to emphasize that the return of growth and investments to Greece were key issues during his meeting with former U.S. president Bill Clinton during the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York City on Sunday. Tsipras responded to Clinton’s questions in an informal discussion, titled “Advancing Growth in Europe: The Greek Crisis & Beyond”, before an audience. The talk was introduced by ambassador Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki.

Issues addressed during the event included a focos on how Greece could overcome the crisis. Tsipras refered to the necessity of investments, which could be attracted from Greek Americans living in the United States as well as in other countries.

Growth and investment would benefit most from a haircut of public debt, he stressed. Just as his government would honor its commitments to Europe, so should Europe honor its commitments to Greece, by helping it lower the public debt.

Tsipras pointed to research and technology in Greece that are particularly in need of investments. Developing this sector would help restrain Greece’s “brain drain” as bright young people leave the country to seek opportunities abroad.

He said his government was committed to reforming the public sector to aid in this endeavor, and understood that bureaucracy and tax laws also needed to be addressed.