ATHENS

Ιούλιος 2010

EDITORIAL

Christos Alexakis
CEO
Invest in Greece Agency

Recent positive developments in Greece provide us with an opportunity to welcome the global investment community with a renewed sense of optimism. Confidence among businesspeople is key to decision-making and a number of critical factors are creating essential, confidence-building measures that open new opportunities in Greece.

Just a few months after announcing sweeping austerity and fiscal reform measures, Greece’s Finance Minister, George Papaconstantinou, said the country is on track to meet its 2010 deficit targets, citing H1 data that shows the budget deficit in the first half of 2010 was 4.9% of GDP, an improved performance on the target of 5.8% agreed upon with the IMF and EU.

In addition, Greece has been very successful in two T-Bill auctions on the market, achieving rates of 4.65% and 4.05%, considerably better than the 5% rate on IMF/EU funds.

HIGHLIGHT

Greece & China—Building a New Investment Partnership

In June, Greece & China signed 14 agreements.
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SPEAK OUT

Bullish on Greece—Terry Cooper, VP, Coldwell Banker

ANALYSIS

Greece Passes New RES Law

Greece introduced a new Renewable Energy Sources (RES) law that is designed to dramatically transform the RES market in Greece and provide a huge opportunity to investors.

INVESTMENT NEWS

Investment Opportunities in State Assets

The Greek government is planning a major privatisation programme that offers investors significant investment opportunities.

NETWORKING IN NEW MARKETS

Erol User—Building Stronger Greek-Turkish Business Relations

REGIONAL GREECE

Pharmathern Opens Large Manufacturing Unit

The Pharmathern Group has built and opened a new 41-million Euro production facility in Greece’s Rodopi region, one of the largest pharmaceutical sector investments of the last three decades.

SUCCESS STORY

Sol Meliá Hotels and Resorts

Angel Luis Rodriguez, VP Development of the Spain’s Sol Meliá Hotels and Resorts, discusses the presence of Sol Melia in the Greek market.

IQ - INNOVATION QUOTIENT

Innovation—In the Air, On the Ground

Innovation is increasingly becoming part of the Greek landscape, as demonstrated by two novel projects, one in air surveillance and one in a new hydrogen-powered car.

NEWSWIRE

Greece at Shanghai’s EXPO 2010

Greece is anticipating greater cooperation with China in the areas of tourism and shipping and hopes to attract more Chinese investment to Greece.

OUTREACH

Foreign Diplomats, Synergassia, and Central Greece