Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis appeared on the Chinese tv network CGTN where he declared “Greece is open for business” and noted the country’s major comparative advantages as a trade hub and tourism destination, both through its geostrategic position and through its cultural heritage and natural beauty.
“Greece is ‘open for business’. We are attracting Chinese, European, American and Japanese investments. I would like, however, to point out that the Chinese invested in the port of Piraeus when few other countries were considering direct investments in Greece’s infrastructure. This is, therefore, a project that will move forward. This is a commitment that we have made and I sincerely believe it is a win-win project for all involved,” Mitsotakis said.
The Greek Prime Minister pointed out that ships carrying goods from Asia to Europe could save between seven and ten days if they sailed to the port of Piraeus, which was a natural gateway for goods, instead of the ports of northern Europe. He also stressed that Greece’s ultimate goal is to make Piraeus the biggest port in Europe and that the Greek government has approved a new cycle of investments in two months that will significantly upgrade the port.
Mitsotakis noted the government’s determination to make the maximum use of actions to open up the massive Chinese market to Greek goods, in a bid to boost growth through exports. He said that Greece wants to increase its footprint in the agri-food products market, through its high-quality wines, cheeses and olive oil, at a time when a growing Chinese middle class is exploring new gastronomic sensations.
“It is our intention to make our presence felt in China,” Mitsotakis said, noting that Greek products could benefit from the EU-China agreement for protecting geographic origin indication products, such as feta cheese.
