“For the first time in a very long time, the state of affairs is positive, not only because of the improved macroeconomic indicators, but also because we are headed towards a clean exit, in August, from the memoranda,” Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos stressed, addressing the event on the Foreign Ministry’s economic diplomacy actions for 2017-2018. “These developments will not only reaffirm the potential to determine the tools of economic diplomacy,” he added, “but will also give us back a large portion of our lost democratic sovereignty and constitute a further measure for alleviating the debt, creating new prospects for the Greek economy.” Mr. Katrougalos also highlighted that the international orientation of the Greek economy functioned as an antidote to the crisis, and he noted that Greek exports increased by 13% in 2017, as compared to 2016. With the exit from the memoranda, a new productive model is required, he argued; a new model based on our country’s advantages, including its geographical position, the biodiversity of its agricultural products, its highly trained workforce, and, at the same time, a shift towards innovation and knowledge. The Alternate Minster of Foreign Affairs also referred to the very good cooperation with the co-competent agencies and private entrepreneurship on improving Greece’s presence in traditional markets (EU and Arab countries, China and the emerging countries of Asia) and on opening up new markets (countries of North and West Africa, Latin American countries). The Secretary General for International Economic Relations Development Cooperation, Ioannis Brachos, stressed in his speech that cooperation between public and private organizations can produce significant results in the effort to increase exports, adding that collaboration between the co-competent ministries, like that between the ministries of Economy and Rural Development, is vital. “At the same time,” Mr. Brachos underscored, “cooperation with private agencies is being promoted and memorandums of cooperation have already been signed (SEV, SEVE, Pan-Hellenic Exporters Association, Union of Hellenic Chambers), with the aim of formulating and organizing actions in foreign markets that will promote Greece’s economic and business interests and contribute to improving our country’s position in the global economic environment.”
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