The Greek economy is currently growing at a rate of 2.3 percent, Economy and Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis said on Friday during his speech on the second day of the Economist conference, held in Thessaloniki.
He emphasised that the growth rate is higher than in many European countries, stressing that “of course, we can do better; we will implement more reforms. People expect more from us.” He added that reforms “are the only way forward.”
Pierrakakis noted that past mistakes must be avoided, pointing out that the country is now on the right path.
“The macroeconomic use of digital tools in the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) is one of the major successes. If you look at what happened in 2008, the economic model had failed; it was based on consumption,” he said, adding that “investments in GDP, when we took over, were at 11 percent compared to the European average of 21 percent. Now we are at 15.3 percent. We have not yet met the target, but we are on the right track. As for exports as a percentage of GDP, they stood at 20 percent in 2008, and now they have reached 42 percent, with the European average at 51 percent,” while expressing optimism that “they may even reach 60 percent.”
“Regarding growth, the model has changed, but investments in infrastructure are required, along with the removal of certain barriers. We are heading in that direction, and we will succeed,” he stated.
Speaking about what Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to announce in his speech on Saturday at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), Pierrakakis underlined that “you will not listen to a traditional speech of spending announcements, but one that will include a list of reforms. We will see how, through all these reforms, we will strengthen the economy and the country.”
ANA-MPA is communication supporter of «The Fifth Thessaloniki Metropolitan Summit – Southeast Europe as a bridge of co-operation and growth»
Photos from the Summit:
https://www.amna.gr/pr-photo
On camera statements:
https://www.amna.gr/video-services/544358/Corporate%20Videos (YouTube)
https://www.youtube.com/user/AMNAwebTV (YouTube)
https://we.tl/SG16Qml4bD (archives)
