“We are more powerful than ever as Greece,” said Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis in a speech at the Economist conference entitled “29th Annual Government Roundtable – Walking Steadily Across a Tightrope of Uncerty”, referring to the European level.

The minister referred to the sizes of the economy, which prove this, such as the primary surplus of 4.8% of GDP and 2.3% growth. We have a fiscal stability and a technological development that helps to manage the problem of tax evasion, he said.

Mr Pierrakakis said that 10 years ago there were capital controls and “it is a miracle how we managed and faced the situation. It is an example of the perseverance and patience of all of us. ” He said there is a strategy of strengthening the economy and “we have many challenges, but we can deal with them”.

3+1 -point strategy

The minister spoke of a 3+1 -point strategy in today’s times in Europe. “One” is at European level, as Europe is facing threats and the barriers to tariffs must be lifted and European integration proceed. The other “three” are on national level:

-The removal of obstacles both within the states and between the Member States. “We have begun to deal with bureaucracy and will continue,” he said.

-There are European champions, so national champions. It has been an example of education and how it can contribute to development in the coming years.

-The Hypermalion and most privatizations through it.

Asked about removing obstacles and the flow of investment to Greece, the minister said that the failed Greek model was based on non -commercial sectors of the economy and was dominated by consumption as a “locomotive” of the economy.

He said exports/ GDPs were 10%in 2019 and today they are 42%, with average in the EU at 51%. “A country like Greece must be at 60%. We are in the middle of the road and we can build on it (42%) for the new economic model. “

Investments/GDP was 11%in 2019 and today is 15%, with the EU average at 21%. “We continue in the right direction,” he said.

The recovery fund must, unlike other funds, identify investment with reforms and the multiplier effect for investment will be seen in the coming years.

Mr Pierrakakis made a special reference to the 5G auction at national level, with 27% of the revenue heading to the development of the National Fund 5G (€ 100 million funds) and the Commission characterizing it as the best auction at European level.

In order to remove investment obstacles, the minister referred to the “MITOS” platform, where all the external services provided by the state were codified. He said that of the 5,500 services provided by the state to businesses and citizens, 2,000 of them are now offered electronically through Gov.gr. And he said that “it is a strategy until the end of the government’s term to simplify further areas and services where there is business interest.” While he was also in favor of developing more “players” through mergers and acquisitions.