The importance of Economic Diplomacy
• It is now clear – even to the most sceptical – that economic diplomacy needs to be a top priority for our foreign policy, spearheading our international relations.
• The primary objective of the government and the Foreign Ministry – now that the fiscal stability programme and the viability of our debt are on track – is economic recovery, which cannot be achieved without strengthening the international orientation of Greek enterprises.
• A major step forward was taken with the recent decisions putting a definitive end to worries about a potential Greek exit from the eurozone.
• The vital challenge of achieving growth and reducing unemployment cannot be met without the ‘internationalization’ of our enterprises: exports, tourism and investments. To this end, the Foreign Ministry is utilizing an extensive network of services abroad, including our Embassies and Economic & Trade Affairs Offices, as well as other agencies, like the Hellenic Foreign Trade Board (HEPO), Invest in Greece, and the Privatization Fund.
Internationalization of Enterprises – Targeted Markets
• Today’s conference focuses on six countries. Six from the EU, two fast-developing, large economies – Russia and Turkey – and neighbouring FYROM. The basis for our choice of countries is twofold:
o To support and expand the market share of Greek products in European markets that are ‘traditional’ destinations for our products (France, Belgium, Germany), and
o To create inroads for our products into fast-developing markets with which we have traditional (historical, social and economic) ties.
• The Foreign Ministry is working to develop bilateral economic and trade relations with all the EU countries and with a large number of third, non-EU countries. In this framework, we are planning to convene Joint Interministerial Committees with countries such as Russia, Saudi Arabia, India and Brazil in the coming months.
• I came away from my recent visit to China with a strong impression of intense and sincere interest on the part of Chinese officials and entrepreneurs in investing in Greece and developing trade and tourism. Among the encouraging signs was the Chinese side’s promise to open – here in Athens – the first in European office of the China Development Bank.
• Also in China, I was very pleased to hear COSCO’s strategic plan to make Piraeus not only a gateway to Europe, but also a distribution centre.
Positive Signs
• Things are and will remain difficult for entrepreneurs and for society as a whole. That is the reality of the situation. But I must point up a positive sign that I saw in the most recent EUROSTAT data for January-September 2012: During that time, our exports increased by 12%, while our imports fell by 13%, resulting in a more than 35% reduction in our trade deficit.
December 19, 2012