N. YPOFANTIS: Let’s say good day to Deputy Foreign Minister Kourkoulas, who is with us. He is competent for economic diplomacy issues. What economic diplomacy, Mr. Kourkoulas?
D. KOURKOULAS: Good morning. This is a very important conference. It is being hosted by export agencies, but also by the Association of Foreign Ministry Commercial and Trade Affairs Personnel. I am completely convinced that the only viable way out of the crisis is to bolster activities abroad. It is inevitable that domestic demand will not be very strong in the coming years in Greece, so the only way to create jobs, to create growth, is through exports, investments and tourism.
The Foreign Ministry has perceived the patriotic importance of this new policy, and that is why we are working closely with business agencies. I am very pleased that this event has attracted representatives from chambers such as the Greek-English chamber of commerce, the Greek-Indian, the Greek-Canadian.
Only in this way, through specific actions, and we are putting our services at the disposal of all Greek enterprises that want to internationalize: the network of our Embassies, where in many cases there are economic and commercial affairs offices, there is a Counsellor who is there permanently, knows the market, knows the ins and outs of the local market.
N. ANDRITSOS: Right. Mr. Kourkoulas, I can confirm what you are saying, because I was told from Brussels that they were impressed when Belgian entrepreneurs went to find them in Brussels – went to the Greek Embassy in Brussels to get information and invite them to a meeting the Prime Minister held 20 days ago, if I’m not mistaken, and it really was a pleasant surprise.
D. KOURKOULAS: As I said, it is now our patriotic duty. The Great Idea that inspired generations of diplomats and politicians in the last century, is now for us to survive and come out winners in the global economic war, in which we have, to be honest, currently suffered a loss. That’s what the Great Idea is today. To emerge from this definitively, we need to internationalize, and I think that we have strategic comparative advantages: we have highly developed human resources, we are in a geographical position that can and must be capitalized on as a gateway for Asian markets into Europe. As I said, we have an extensive network of Embassies where we are working quietly, professionally, and readapting the whole mindset of the Foreign Ministry.
N. YPOFANTIS: Mr. Kourkoulas mentioned mindset. The diplomatic personnel need a change in attitude – let’s not forget that they are civil servants – to think very carefully on the fact that the interests of the Greek entrepreneur, to export his product, are also their interests. This is a change in mindset that has to be achieved in a very short timeframe, Mr. Kourkoulas, and I don’t know where it stands right now.
D. KOURKOULAS: At our Ministry – and I think at all the Ministries – this has already been achieved. Greek entrepreneurs also need to change their mindset. It is difficult, and we recognize the difficulty of surviving amid international competition, but if you succeed, the reward will be great for the enterprise as well as the national economy – it will be good for our country.
N. YPOFANTIS: Thank you very much. Take care, Mr. Kourkoulas.
March 29, 2013