Within the framework of his official visit to Adelaide, Deputy Foreign Minister Kostas Tsiaras met with the Premiere of South Australia, Jay Weatherill, who expressed his interest in the current situation in Greece.
Mr. Tsiaras pointed up the close and special ties Greece maintains with Australia, adding that there is potential for further cooperation through capitalizing on the fact that a large portion of the Greek Australian community is fully integrated into the country.
Mr. Tsiaras also met with the head of the main opposition party, Steven Marshall, whom he briefed on the economic adaptation programme being implemented in Greece, focusing on the privatization strategy, which, in combination with the efforts to streamline bureaucracy, is creating opportunities for recovery and new jobs.
In Brisbane, Mr. Tsiaras met with Mayor Graham Quirk, who praised the significant presence of Greek Australians. Mr. Tsiaras underscored the dynamism of Greeks abroad, who have a presence in the social, scientific, economic and political life of the countries where they reside.
Mr. Tsiaras also met with Minister for Aboriginal and Multicultural Affairs Glen Elms, as well as with prominent Greek Australians, who were briefed on the situation in Greece and expressed their interest in investing in the country.
The Deputy Foreign Minister noted that the prospects for expanding bilateral economic cooperation are aimed at capitalizing on members of the Greek Australian community who are active in sectors such as construction, real estate agency services, tourism, innovation and research, underscoring the Greek state’s encouragement of all initiatives toward business activities abroad, which will help put Greece on the road to growth.
March 8, 2013