Friday, April 24, 2020
Ambassador Pyatt’s Press Statement to Kathimerini on Prospects for U.S. Investment after the Pandemic
Since the start of this global health crisis, the United States has been working closely with the Greek government on ways to ensure we maintain the momentum in our economic relationship once we all begin the return to normality. Greece’s effective management of the pandemic, including its successful and innovative drive to digitize many government processes, has won praise from international partners and from the media, and that will build confidence in Greece as an investment destination. We continue to encourage American investment in key sectors like energy and infrastructure, including the Alexandroupoli port and FSRU, new wind power concessions, and the Elefsina shipyard: these are long-term projects whose strategic value hasn’t changed. I’ve also spoken several times recently with Minister Kikilias to discuss investment in Greece’s health sector as well as collaboration with the U.S. private sector on research and testing that will allow normal economic activity to resume. Pfizer is one of the flagship examples of American health sector investment in Greece and northern Greece in particular, but there’s much more that can be done, including to leverage Greece’s strong history in generic manufacturing and great potential in clinical trials. Finally, we continue to see great prospects in the tourism sector, headlined by the Hellinikon project, which is finally moving ahead. We continue to work together with groups like the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU), which I recently addressed with Deputy Minister Fragogiannis, ACEBA, which I addressed two weeks ago, and the American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, to remind investors of the value proposition that Greece represents and the government’s demonstrated commitment to market-led growth and our strong bilateral trade and investment ties. We look forward to increasing cooperation across a range of areas and will continue to firmly stand by Greece as it successfully navigates this global economic shock.
