The timelessness of commercial relations between Greece and Germany was mentioned by the Minister of Development, Takis Theodorikakos, speaking at the official networking dinner in the context of the 4th Innovation Forum, which is co-organized by the Hellenic German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the German Embassy in Athens.

The German economy, as the minister said, is the main export destination for Greek products. He even added that the exceptional levels of cooperation are reflected, both in investment capital flows and tourist arrivals, as well as in business partnerships.

The minister also emphasized that the transnational cooperation between Greece and Germany in research and innovation is the only multi-thematic bilateral program that Germany implements and co-finances with another EU member state. and shows the high priority that both countries attach to this cooperation.

“The economies of scale that can result from the technological coordination of centers and research institutes can be decisive for the competitiveness of the two economies,” he noted.

Among other things, he said: “We are going through a period with a very high degree of geostrategic fluidity, as the two wars that are being fought in our wider region have very large effects on the economic life of Europe, and therefore serious effects of a strategic nature.

In fact they put the E.U. faced with very serious identity issues and choices of priorities, as they touch on security issues and huge risks for its future, linked to the competitiveness of the European economy, the present and the perspectives of the EU.

At the same time, without any doubt, the election of President Trump in the United States creates new data.

I believe that the main priorities of the E.U. they are in the Draghi report and especially in the need to adopt a model of aggressive investment, particularly in the field of industry, innovation and cutting-edge technology produced by innovation. This is a condition of survival for the European economy and for its competitiveness.

So, in this light, Greece and Germany must work together within the EU, to contribute to this. Of course, Germany is undoubtedly the country with the largest economic size and is called upon to play an extremely important and decisive role in this case.”

The minister continued, saying that “the unilateral imposition of tariffs, taxes, quotas on bilateral trade and the provision of incentives by the US side to attract investment capital may hurt this long-term relationship in the short term, but what is certain is that they will not alter it in the long term ».

But, regardless of political developments, as he noted, the US places Germany at the center of transatlantic relations and is its main interlocutor in the EU. For this reason, as he said, it is called today the largest economy of the EU. to lead the effort that will position EU relations – USA in a new era and in this context, he believes, that “we must revisit the issue of strengthening European production – industry”.

Finally, Mr. Theodorikakos noted that Greece in the last five years has become a pillar of stability in Southeast Europe. As he said, our growth rates reached 2% in the period 2019 – 2023 and today, in the second quarter of 2024, 2.3% – one of the highest in the EU. This presents many opportunities for German companies to invest in Greece. In the Medium-Term Plan 2025-2028, growth rates of 2.3% are foreseen for 2025 and the debt is reduced with the aim of reducing it by 20% in 2028, reaching 133% of GDP.