Greece
Current Time
General Information
Hellenic Republic (Greece)
National Flag 
Area: 131, 990 sq. km.
Population: 11,171,740
Density: 84.46/km2
Length of State Border: 1,228 km
Border Countries: Albania (282 km), Bulgaria (494 km), Turkey (206 km), FYROM (246 km)
Climate: Temperate, mild, wet winters, hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Elevation Extremes: Lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m - Highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917m
Geographic Importance:
Strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and the southern approach to Dardanelles Straits, a peninsular country possessing an archipelago of about 3,000 islands.
Natural Resources: Lignite, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt
Legal System: Based on Roman law, judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts
Time Zone: GMT +2
Official Language: Greek
Currency: Euro
Capital: Athens
Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy Legislative
Branch: Unicameral Parliament– 300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to four-year terms
Chief of State: President
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Membership in important international organizations: European Union, NATO, EBRD, EIB, IBRD, IMF, IMO, Interpol, OECD, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WTO, CERN
Despite the economic crisis that emerged in 2010, Greece still remains an attractive investment destination, as it offers to businesspeople numerous investment opportunities stemming from Greece’s strategic geographic location and its competitive advantages. Greece is a natural gateway to the markets of Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, regions with more than 140 million consumers and a GDP reaching 1 trillion Euros.
As the center of neigbouring emerging markets, Greece provides access to populations where there is high demand for consumer goods, infrastructure modernization, technology transfer and innovation networks, energy, tourism and light industry.
In parallel, Greek companies and banks are well established and play a key role in the markets of neighboring countries.
Investors are increasingly discovering that Greece combines features unique in Europe. The country is a premier global tourist destination, is an emerging regional energy center, and has a highly educated and multilingual workforce.
Population by age group
Age Group Total Number % of Total
0-14 1,596,530 14.3%
15-64 7,501,190 66.7%
65+ 2,074,020 19%
Economically-active population 4.95 mil.
Birth rate 9.62 births/1,000 population
Major Greek Cities
Athens 3.761.180
Thessaloniki 1.057.825
Patra 191.058
Iraklio 137.711
Volos 85.001
Greek Regions
• Region of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace
• Region of Central Macedonia
• Region of Western Macedonia
• Region of Epirus
• Region of Thessaly
• Region of Ionian Islands
• Region of Western Greece
• Region of Sterea Ellada (Central Greece)
• Region of Attica
• Region of Peloponnese
• Region of North Aegean
• Region of South Aegean
• Region of Crete
According to Law 3852/2010 otherwise known as the “Kallikratis” Programme, the administrative division of Greece has been reformed, and the borders of the locally, self-administrated units, the electoral procedure related to their governing bodies, and their responsibilities, were redefined.
The Kallikratis Programme uniformly and consistently relates to and interacts with the two levels of local government, that of (1) Municipalities and Regions, and the (2) Decentralized Administrative Units. The administrative structure of Greece is as follows: 13 Regions (elected region heads) that replace 76 administrative units (prefectures, expanded prefectures) and 325 new municipalities.
Since January 1, 2011 seven Decentralized Administrative Units also operate and their responsibilities are limited solely to state functions, according to the provisions of the Constitution.
The "Kallikratis" programme vigorously promotes transparency and actively improves the business environment by creating new institutions and the expanded use of the Internet and new technologies.
Investors Service Offices in the 13 Regions
The new Investment Law provides for the creation of new Investors Service Offices, which facilitate the submission procedure of investment plans. The Offices by Region are the following:
• Region of Attica
4 Korai (6th floor), 105 64, Athens, tel.: +30 210 325 8800-04, fax: +30 210 325 8839
80-88 Syngrou Ave. (5th floor), 16345, Athens, tel.: +30 213 2065209,
+30 213 2065212, fax: +30 210 6983475
• Region of Eastern Macedonia/Thrace
1 G. Kakoulidou St., 69100 Komotini, tel.: +30 25313 52674, fax: +30 25313 52184
• Region of North Aegean
12 Kavetsou St. 81100 Mytilene, Lesvos, tel.: +30 22510 27662,
+30 22510 23201, fax: +30 22510 27973, +30 22510 23201
• Region of Western Greece
Dimaion St. and 1 Ipsilantou St., 26110, Patra, tel.: +30 2613 600134,
+30 2613 600147, fax: +30 2610 452176
• Region of Western Macedonia
Administrative Office C11 (3rd floor, 3rd wing), ZEP Kozanis, 50100 Kozani,
tel.: +30 24613 50110 (Office of Head of the Region), +30 24610 53246
• Region of Epirus
Administrative Office Pyrrou Sq. 45221, Ioannina, tel.: +30 26510 87236
• Region of Thessalia
111 Sokratous St. 41336 Larissa, tel.: +30 2413 503607, fax: +30 2413 503669
• Region of Ionian Islands
Alikes Potamou, 49100, Corfu, tel.: +30 26610 39606, fax: +30 26610 31696
• Region of Central Macedonia
The Residency of Thessaloniki (Diikitirio) - 203 Office (2nd floor),
54123, Thessaloniki, tel.: +30 2310 379103, +30 2310 379240
11 Kathigiti Rosidi St. Thessaloniki, 540 08, tel.: +30 2313 309105
• Region of Crete
2 Ikarou St. & Spanaki St., 71307, Heraklion, Crete, tel.: +30 2810 278610,
+30 2810 278609
• Region of South Aegean
35 Eptanisou St. (entrance from Papagou shorefront), 84100, Ermoupoli,
Syros, tel.: +30 22813 60283-4-5, fax: +30 22810 85237
7 Megalou Alexandrou Sq. Old Town, 85100, Rhodes, tel.: +30 22410 36200, 26 182
• Region of Peloponnese
Menelaou St. and Sekeri St., 22100, Tripoli, tel.: +30 2713 601190,
+30 2713 601192, fax: +30 2713 601173
• Region of Sterea Ellada (Central Greece)
14 Ipsilanti St., 35100 Lamia, tel.: +30 22310 25360, +30 22310 29303,
fax: +30 22310 42289
Transportation & Telecommunications
Railways, total: 2,552 km
Roadways, total: 117,000 km
Major highways
Egnatia Highway
PATHE Motorway
Ionian Motorway, Rion-Antirrion (Bridge)
Attiki Odos Motorway
Major Ports
Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Volos, Patra, Alexandroupoli, Elefsina, Igoumenitsa, Iraklio, Kavala, Rhodes, Lavrio, Chalkida, Corfu
Major Airports
[15 international airports, 26 domestic airports, 20 million passengers annually]
The main airports are:
Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos), Thessaloniki, Iraklio (Crete), Rhodes, Corfu, Kos, Chania, Zakynthos, Samos, Mykonos, Santorini (Thira)
Telecommunications
Telephones – main lines in use: 5,248,122
Telephones – mobile (cellular) approx.:15 million
Mobile phone penetration: 131%
Mobile phone operators: Cosmote, Wind Hellas, Vodafone Greece
Internet penetration: 44%
Broadband penetration: 19.9% est. end 2010
Rank among the EE-27 in the growth rate of broadband penetration, 1/7/2010: First
