Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Kotsiras’ speech at the conference “Demographic 2024- A National Priority” – highlights (Athens, 23.05.2024)

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Kotsirasreferred tothe improvement of Greece's image and the actions undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote the opportunities that our country now offers to Diaspora young people. He addressed the conference "Demographic 2024 – A National Priority", held today at the Acropolis Museum.

Mr. Kotsiras emphasized  that the brain drain is an extremely serious and  multifaceted national issue that Greece has  now the opportunity to curb as the country enters a period of stability, extroversion, economic growth, meritocracy in the public sector, improvement in justice administration, and state digitization.

We invest in improving the country's image and  seek to communicate it in the best possible way abroad, keeping alive the relationship  between the Greek State and  the Diaspora, from which we can draw human capital to address the demographic issue, the Deputy Minister pointed out.

Mr. Kotsiras placed particular emphasis on implementing strategic, holistic, and horizontal programs to ensure their long-term duration. This is the spirit of the Foreign Ministry's Strategic Plan for Greeks Abroad, which includes, inter alia,  actions to attract the brain drain generation.

Indicatively, the Deputy Minister mentioned, inter alia, the cooperation between Greek Authorities abroad and the Public Employment Service and civil society organizations to promote job opportunities offered in Greece to young people from the Diaspora.  Furthermore, he referred to the Cooperation Protocol signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the “Study in Greece” National Agency to support the internationalization of Greek universities and their connection with the job market.

"The country is progressing, the signs are optimistic, but we should continue, persist strategically, with an eye on the future," Mr. Kotsiras concluded.

May 23, 2024