Mitsotakis: My vision in 2030 is to be an exporter of energy from RES

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, among others, expressed his wish for Greece to become an exporter of energy from Renewable Sources by 2030 inwith a discussion in the context of the 33rd Greek Economic Summit organized by the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce and in which he participated.

“We have made a huge bet regarding RES. We have plenty of sun, wind and water. Greece is already a leading player in RES. We expect to reach 25 KW by 2030, to be an exporter of energy from RES. We know what the barriers are and what we have to jump over. The problem in Greece is the network. We must also be at the forefront of new technologies. We have already collected excess profits from companies, we have imposed a 90% tax on excess profits, to support households and businesses. In the short term to ensure supply and reasonable prices, I hope we can achieve this tomorrow in the price of natural gas but at the same time we will have to accelerate the green transition. We also have a role to play as a conduit from North Africa to Europe. 50% of Egypt is inhabited. It is not difficult to find a place for photovoltaic parks there and we are discussing a cable that will connect Egypt with Greece,” said Mr. Mitsotakis.

“Aim to make Greece a leading tourist destination”

At the same time, Mr. Mitsotakis stated that his vision is to make Greece the leading tourist destination in the world. “We have vertical policies in certain areas. We also have various policies in targeted areas. For example, the agri-food sector where there are huge opportunities. We can move away from the individual smallholder model to cooperatives. Exports are booming. They exceeded 40% of our GDP, it’s a huge jump. See olive oil. Now small producers make a brand name and export it at a high price. Also tourism and wellness. My vision is to make Greece the leading tourist destination in the world. There is no compromise when it comes to sustainability, local products, connecting with our cultural heritage. When we say destination and quality of life, we mean everything. Greece is in a unique position to take advantage of the concept of wellness. It has to do with the weather, the food, the social networks, the possibility to have genuine experiences in Greece. Some tourist destinations are already reaching saturation level, so the question of sustainability must be put at the core. There are still plenty of opportunities. Salaries will be better for people in tourism, as they will be more experienced,” he pointed out.

“We managed to change the image of Greece”

In question also accepted for the how different the world will be after the end of the war in Ukraine noted: “We are faced with a situation which until now was unimaginable. The war has caused turmoil in the energy market. Many countries have managed to remain resilient. It is a question of replenishing the gas when the replenishment from Russia stops. The US is betting big on green technology and doing so in a way that is based on the principles of protectionism. Europe may feel pressure on energy costs and it is difficult to convince large companies to produce in Europe. We need to act fast, European companies stay in Europe. What the US does with China does not affect transatlantic partners. President Macron also communicated this to President Biden.

I believe we are moving towards a world where globalization as we have known it will remain weaker. Geopolitics will play a role and strategic autonomy will become increasingly important. Countries with a productive base like Greece will have many opportunities. Eg pharmaceutical products. We found our dependence on China. 10 days ago I was in Tripoli where two major investments are taking place for the production of medicines. There is a better control of the supply chain. We are not looking for the cheapest production area, but we are bringing it back to Greece”

Mr. Mitsotakis also noted that the relations between Greece and the US are the best. “I am happy that the interest of Greeks in the diaspora to invest in Greece has increased. We made it possible for them to vote, but unfortunately there are limitations. If we see how many Greeks or Greek-Americans hold high positions in the USA, we will find that it is not too difficult to convince the Greek-American community of the values ​​of Greece. We have managed to effectively manage expectations, we know how attractive it is for them to come to the country. We managed to change the image of Greece and the Greeks in the diaspora played a role in this. And it’s a huge source of talent. Many young talented Greeks want to return to Greece. I believe in this and I believe in the future of Greece.”

“I am convinced that we will do better in 2023 than the rest of Europe”

Mr. Mitsotakis also referred to the challenges facing the country, however as he emphasized “I am convinced that we will do better in 2023 than the rest of Europe”.

“We faced a series of challenges. I must say that the argument to attract direct investment to Greece is easier than it was 3.5 years ago. Then we had to convince them that things will indeed change, that we will put our finances in order. Now it’s easier because we can show tangible results. Growth is above the EU average, foreign investments are coming and 2021-2022 will not be unique years, but this trend will continue. We have a reform plan.

Some of the crises we faced were also opportunities to strengthen Greece’s position. When I now address foreign investors, the task is easier. We obviously face significant challenges, but I am convinced that we will do better in 2023 than the rest of Europe.

The reforms do not stop. We just started. If the Greek people give us their vote for a second term we have a very clear plan and greater know-how now”

Speaking about the world in the next decade, the Prime Minister noted: “Ten years from now you will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Greek-American Chamber. I can’t predict that far. The big bets we are making now are non-negotiable for the green, digital transition and for a workforce that needs significant upskilling. Protecting the economy, strengthening our defense. In energy we want to be a global leader in the transition to green energy. We know how to achieve it. We know that hydrocarbons will play an important role in the interim period. This is also a bet, for Greece to become a center for Europe’s liquefied natural gas. Digital betting too. We are much more successful than people expected. We are repeating only at the beginning. Our universities are opening up to the world. The bets we have placed are in line with the major trends in the world.”

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