Eurozone Focuses on Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Greece has failed to take the necessary measures to cut its fiscal deficit, according to the directions offered last spring by the EU Council, the European Commission (EC) announced on Wednesday, before recommending that the country be placed under excessive deficit procedure of Article 104(8) of the Treaty of Maastricht.
Responding to this, [...]

Greece: Economy & Finance

BoG Governor on Budget Deficit
The strong parliamentary majority of the new government will enable it to move ahead with much needed reforms in the economy combined with a growth agenda, Bank of Greece Governor George Provopoulos said  October 6.  Speaking on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank [...]

Greece: Foreign Capital Inflows Up

Creating a Trustworthy Market
Foreign capital inflows in Greece grew by 40.5%, (€6.48 billion) with net inflows soaring by 147.8% (€3.47 billion), in 2008, compared with the previous year, Invest in Greece Agency – the Hellenic investment promotion body – announced yesterday.  Citing figures on Foreign Direct Investments in Greece, published by the Bank of Greece, [...]

Greece: Solar Energy Systems Capacity Doubles

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) The installed capacity of solar energy systems in Greece more than doubled within seven months by July 2009, according to the Renewable Energy Sources Centre,  largely because of legislative initiatives of recent years aimed at boosting the market’s development. The cost of solar panels has fallen over 35% within a year.  By harnessing solar [...]

74th Thessaloniki International Fair

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The 74th Thessaloniki International Trade Fair (TIF) begins on September 5 and continues until September 13. The Fair constitutes a forum vested with economic and political significance for the country, as traditionally, the Prime Minister and the leaders of major political parties address the event, heralding their intentions regarding the coming year.  Investments are [...]

Greek Government to Deregulate “Closed Professions”

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The government is to bring national legislation in line with European Union directives in what concerns the deregulation of the service industry and the opening up of the so-called closed professions to competitive conditions, Economy and Finance Minister Yiannis Papathanassiou announced yesterday after a meeting of the inter-ministerial committee for the economy [...]

UN Market for Greek Businesses

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Within the framework of the “partnership for outward – looking business” initiative (“A Global Market Place in Greece”), the Special Secretariat for the Development of International Programmes is organising a three-day educational seminar on June 15-17. The seminar aims at equipping Greek businesses with the right tools to enter the developing UN [...]

12th Symi Symposium: Progressive Governance

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The 12th annual Symi Symposium is taking place on the island of Skiathos on July 12-16. Held under the aegis of the Andreas Papandreou Foundation, the Symi symposia bring together leading academics, entrepreneurs, politicians, religious leaders, diplomats, scientists, and activists to develop progressive policy solutions to global challenges. The first such symposium [...]

ECOFIN: Greek Budgetary Measures Found Satisfactory

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Commenting the results of the July 7th Economic and Financial Meeting in Brussels, Finance Minister Yannis Papathanassiou said that budgetary measures taken by the government in June were considered satisfactory by the European Union.  “We explained the reasons we could not adopt structural measures in 2009. In the 2010 budget, we can [...]

Greek FINMIN in Brussels

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   The explosion of the unemployment rate in the European Union is the biggest social problem facing EU member-states, Economy and Finance Minister Yiannis Papathanasiou said on Tuesday, adding that employment in Greece remained at better levels compared with other EU states. Speaking an Economy and Financial Affairs Council meeting, the Greek minister [...]

Greek Business Matters

♦ 2009 Budget Progress
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Following the end of the first semester of 2009, the government, true has re-evaluated the consequences of the global crisis on Greek economy and the national budget, as well as the predictions concerning growth prospects in 2009.  After evaluating the data, it emerges that certain sectors of the economy, [...]

Hellas = Greece: For Business & Pleasure

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) “Business Works” reports on Greece with three features covering Greece’s business opportunities and tourist delights.  Introducing Greece, the Greek Ambassador to the Court of St James’ presents the modern face of Greece, “a modern, vibrant country at the crossroads of three continents,” or a country with a respectable past and a promising [...]

Greece: Tax Pacage to Curb Budget Deficit

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Economy and Finance Minister Yiannis Papathanassiou announced on June 25 a €1,9 billion package of new tax measures, in an effort to boost state revenues and reduce public deficit. The package includes higher taxes on fuel, mobile phones, lottery earnings, cars with more than 2-litre engines and recreational boats over 10 metres [...]

Greek Economy in the Spotlight

♦ Greek Banking System Passes “Stress Test”
(GREEK NEWS AGRNDA)   According to a Bank of Greece report on financial stability, published yesterday (June 23), the fundamentals of the Greek banking system are healthy and the sector could withstand even the most severe crisis.  “The results of the stress tests on lenders were encouraging, showing that the [...]

Greek Finance Minister at 10th Venture Capital Forum

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Economic growth will come from within business activation and through collaboration between public and private sector, economy and finance minister Yiannis Papathanassiou said on Tuesday, addressing the 10th Venture Capital Forum organised in Athens by the Invest in Greece Agency in cooperation with the New Economy Fund (TANEO) and the PRAXIS network.  [...]

Greek Bank Finances Climate Change Study

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  A committee of experts and academics from all relevant fields will carry out a study on the long-term economic, social and environmental repercussions of climate change on the country’s economy, Bank of Greece Governor George Provopoulos said yesterday (16.6). The study, which will be funded by the central bank, started being drafted [...]

Invest in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Invest in Greece Agency: Investment Overview .The publication is also available in German, Russian, Japanese and Arabic.  Greece offers businesspeople a wide variety of investment opportunities that utilise the country’s strategic geographic location and unique competitive advantages.  It is a natural gateway to more than 140 million consumers in Southeast Europe and the [...]

Greek Finance Minister: Economic Prospects

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The next two years will be a period of intense reform, Economy and Finance Minister Yiannis Papathanassiou said on Monday (25.5), addressing an Economist conference in Athens. He also stressed that the growth model that helped Greece enjoy strong rates so far, must be adjusted to modern demands and expressed the government’s [...]

Greek Financial Ministe: Economy Resistant to Crisis

The Greek economy is showing stronger resistance to pressure from the ongoing global economic crisis, Economy and Finance Minister Yiannis Papathanassiou stressed on Monday. Commenting on the European Commission’s (EC) spring economic forecasts, the minister said the Commission cut forecasts over economic growth in the Eurozone and the EU, noting that Greece – although projected [...]

Greece: Challenges in the Digital Era

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)     A conference on the “Digital Dividend” took place (February 24) organised by the Hellenic Communications and Post Commission. Minister of Transport and Communications Evripidis Stylianidis, Deputy Interior Minister responsible for the media Konstantinos Gioulekas, President of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation Christos Panagopoulos, directors of regulatory bodies across Europe, corporate executives and experts [...]