Strategic location  dominating the Aegean Sea and the southern approach to the Dardanelles Straits, a peninsular country possessing an archipelago of approximately 3,000 major islands

Natural resources: Lignite, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt

 

Reasons to invest

1.Trade

EXPORTS – 2019

According to the most recent (provisional) data of the Hellenic Statistical Authority, the total value of exports for 2019 amounted to €33,800.7 million, compared to €33,417.6 million in 2018, presenting a 1.0% increase. Excluding petroleum products, the exports during the same period presented a 4.7% increase (€23,237.6 million from €22,202.4 million in 2018), whereas excluding petroleum products and shipping the increase amounted to 4.9% (from €22,069.7 million to €23,144.1 million).

The largest share of exports for 2019 is occupied by fuel (31.6%) followed by industrial goods classified according to raw material (14.9%), food (14.2%) and chemical products (12.1%).

Destination countries (2019):

Exports to the European Union amounted to 56% during 2019, demonstrating its special weight in Greek export trade. A dynamic increase of Greek exports in 2019 occurred to the following countries: Italy, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Israel, Hungary, Australia, etc. The main partners include:

• Italy (10.8%)
• Germany (6.8%)
• Cyprus (6.1%)
• Turkey (5.8%)
• Bulgaria (4.8%)
• USA (3.9%)
• United Kingdom (3.7%)
• France (3.5%)

IMPORTS – 2019

The imports were increased by 2.6% during 2019 and amounted to €55,521.0 million, from €54,119.7 million in 2018.

Countries of origin (2019):

The EU is also an important import trade partner of Greece, with a share of 53.1%. The main countries include:

• Germany (11.1%)
• Italy (8.6%)
• Iraq (8.2%)
• Russia (7.3%)
• China (7.3%)
• Netherlands (5.0%)
• France (4.3%)
• Spain (3.7%)

 

2.Foreign Direct Investment

According to the most recent (updated) data of Bank of Greece, the (net) inflows of Foreign Direct Investment in Greece for 2019 amounted to €4,484 million (the highest amount since 2002 that FDI data is being published by Bank of Greece) compared to 3,364 million in 2018, presenting an increase of 33,3%. 2019 is the fourth consecutive year of increase of net foreign direct investment in our country, following an annual increase of 9.0% from 2017 to 2018, 23.5% from 2016 to 2017 and 118.5% from 2015 to 2016.

Countries of origin of investment funds

The investment activity in the country during the previous decade originates mainly from companies of major markets, such as the EU, with Germany and France constituting the main countries of origin of investment funds. Cyprus, as well as Switzerland, also constitute important sources of investment funds, with the first ten positions filled by  the Netherlands, China (with Hong Kong) that has significantly strengthened its position during the previous years, Canada, USA, Luxembourg and Spain.

 

3.Infrastructure

Greece has a developed infrastructure that enables the uninterrupted implementation of most investment activities. Within the context of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, and investment in the years after, there have been a number of material improvements in Greece’s infrastructure.

Road Network

In recent years, the road network has seen substantial improvements. One of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe is the Egnatia Highway, a new East-West highway connecting the port of Igoumenitsa on the Ionian Sea with Alexandroupolis, near the Turkish border.

Airports

Greece has 45 airports—15 international airports, 26 domestic airports, and 4 municipal airports. Many of these airports, especially on the islands, primarily serve tourists and handle charter flights. In 2001, the Athens International Airport opened and is considered to be one of the best airports in Europe. 

Ports

With hundreds of islands, Greece has many seaports, 16 of which are international. The port of Piraeus is one of the busiest in Europe and is the main cargo port of the country, followed by the ports of Thessaloniki, Patras, and Igoumenitsa. Greece has more than 140 ports that serve passengers and cargo.

Greece’s port infrastructure is being constantly upgraded and improved to meet the needs of cargo shipping, security concerns, and the country’s visitors, that totalled 27.2 million in 2017. 

Railway

The Greek railway system has been placing emphasis on upgrading its infrastructure. The improvement of the rail bed and the laying of new track to improve transport times have been the main priorities.

Maritime transport

The shipping lanes serving Greece’s mainland and islands are highly efficient and transport large quantities of passengers and cargo every year. In addition to passenger and cargo ferries, a large number of high-speed catamarans introduced in recent years have reduced travel times considerably.

Power and Energy

In recent years the energy market has been liberalized, providing the private sector with new investment opportunities. In wind and solar, major progress is being made as Greece has committed to a minimum 29% of energy from RES by 2020. 

The capacity of Greece to handle increased petroleum and natural gas transportation is transforming the country into an energy hub in Southeast Europe, while surveys for hydrocarbons are also progressing rapidly.

Telecommunications

As with energy, the liberalization of the telecommunications market has resulted in a large number of telecom suppliers in landline, cellular, and Internet services. The market is now highly competitive and services are of a high standard.

Water and Sewage Systems

As international concerns about climate change mount, Greece has managed to avoid serious problems to date in its water supply. Concerns are greatest on some islands that have limited fresh water resources and must rely on transported water. Innovative desalination projects using RES technologies are being planned for implementation.

Almost 100% of households have continuous access to water supply and almost 95% are connected to the sewage system. Relatively new sewage treatment plants serving Athens and Thessaloniki have dramatically improved the water quality in the Saronic Gulf in Athens and the Thermaic Gulf in Thessaloniki.

 

4.Human Capital

During the previous decades, Greece’s integration into the E.U., demographic changes and globalization trends, reshaped the economic landscape. The human resources of the country adapted accordingly, in order to be able to meet the needs of today’s economy, that is based on services and knowledge. Greece has a remarkable number of highly skilled workers, able to efficiently support any investment effort.

 

5.Access to Financing

Investors have a wide selection of alternatives for their financing needs to implement their projects:

• The PA (Partnership Agreement for the Development Framework) 
• Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) 
• Venture Capital and Private Equity financing are at a quite mature stage of development in Greece and have enabled many investors to realize their plans.
• Financial Institutions, offer to the entrepreneur a wide selection of customized financial instruments and complement the above mentioned financial tools to cover financing needs that cannot be

Sector Opportunities 

1.Tourism

With more than 16,000 kilometres of coastline, more than 6,000 islands and islets, and a well-established tourism industry, Greece presents a prime investment opportunity in the Tourism sector. The country is one of the top global tourism destinations for sun and beach holidays and  provides attractive propositions for year-round themed holidays. The competitive advantages of Greece, such as rich cultural heritage, natural beauty and geographical variety, have been attracting significant tourism investments in recent years, thus further strengthening Greece’s image as an ideal destination both for holidays and tourism-related investments.

Key investment opportunities

-Privatization of several key state-owned tourist and transport assets (marinas, regional airports, tourist properties etc.) by the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund.

-Development of premium tourist resorts and properties aided by the funding and tax incentives given for such new developments.

-Development of specialized tourist products and facilities focused around specific themes (gastronomy, culture, wellness etc.), categories (medical tourism, MICE etc.), markets (Russia, Israel, Asia etc.) or segments (elderly, couples etc.).

2.Energy

. The ample availability of renewable energy potential (wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal, solar & solar thermal) combined with ongoing large-scale infrastructure projects involving Greece (TAP-IGB-EastMed Gas Pipelines, EuroAsia Interconnector, hydrocarbons  exploration and development) show that Greece will be a key player in the formulation of the EU energy mix and will provide significant investment opportunities in all energy industries.

3.Information and Communication Technology

The Information and Communications Technology sector is one of the most promising in the Greek economy, driven mostly by the demand for automation and digitalization in the Greek public and private sectors.

The ICT sector in Greece offers several opportunities for investment in high-end, value-added services with a global reach, leveraging the availability of skilled labor, the existing know-how and research capabilities, the strong IT and telecoms infrastructure and the outstanding living and working conditions.

Main investment opportunities

• Data Centers
• Call Centers/Service Centers staffed by Multilingual staff
• Mobile Marketing & Advertising
• Software Development
• Information Security Services
• Smart cities
• Assembly and distribution of ICT devices
• B2B Cloud Services
• Innovation and Research Activities

 

4.Life Sciences 

With a highly skilled workforce and an established R&D and manufacturing capability, the Greek Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals industry exhibits significant growth potential both in serving the internal market, as well as in expanding its reach beyond national borders.

Greece’s Life Sciences industry has been developing at a vigorous rate, with new start-up and spin-off companies increasingly pursuing international R&D collaborations for the development of competitive, technology-based products and services. Essential to this dynamic growth is the Greek R&D infrastructure, which includes internationally renowned research institutes, research teams and University research groups.

In the Pharmaceuticals sector, the manufacturing of generics has the potential to spur growth and GVA, improving the efficiency of the Greek healthcare system and also fuelling exports and growth for the Greek pharmaceuticals industry.

Key investment opportunities

• R&D investments and start-ups in the biotech and life sciences fields
• Greek pharmaceutical companies seeking investment and trade partners to further expand abroad
• Medical tourism facilities combining Greek healthcare expertise with its attractiveness as a tourism destination

 

5.Food and agriculture

Greek food and agriculture have traditionally been one of the major export sectors for Greece, with a strong presence in the European and a growing presence in the US food markets. From olive oil to flour products, honey to processed meats and ready meals, Greek companies have leveraged the competitive advantages offered by Greek primary production in order to competitively enter and remain in global markets, making food and agriculture one of the most dynamic and high-growth sectors in Greek manufacturing.

It is also an area where Greek companies have managed to innovate and differentiate themselves, both in terms of the product but also in terms of packaging. Over the past 10 years, there are several examples of companies in the food sector who have achieved significant market shares abroad by leveraging the combination of traditional Greek ingredients and innovative marketing and packaging.

6.Logistics

Greece stands on the crossroad of three continents (Europe, Asia, Africa), connecting, since early antiquity, people, goods and cultures. For that reason, Greece has long been a strategic node for transportation in the greater region.

Main investment opportunities

• Investments in Greek ports
• Regional airports
• Athens International Airport
• Rail and road transport investments
• Logistics centers Assembly and quality assurance facilities

 

7.Global Business Services

Greece attracts a worldwide interest for the establishment of intra-group service centers offering immense opportunities for centralized middle and back office functions. Being in a geostrategic location, perfectly accessible in a +/- 2h time zone, Greece is an EU member state offering a convenient destination for global IT-enabled services.

Main investment opportunities

• Product Design & Development
• Technical Support & Data centers
• Assembly and distribution of ICT products
• Omni channel contact centers & marketing
• R&D Centres
• Intragroup service centres in accounting, HR and logistics

 

8.Audiovisual Productions

Offering one of the oldest cinematic traditions in the world, Greece is for several reasons a film friendly destination. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the country has attracted landmark international film productions to its unique locations.

Greece is now investing in its audio-visual production industry, producing new talents, making its presence felt at the international festivals, setting trends, and interacting with the international film scene.

Incentive rates:

The sum of the incentive amounts to 40% of the total eligible expenses of the production.

The incentive may be combined with other public incentives, subject to the condition that the total sum of the public incentives granted may not exceed 50% of the total cost of the audio-visual work.

This rate is increased to 60% of the total cost of the audio-visual production in case of cross border productions and to 80% of the total cost of the audio-visual production in case of a “difficult” audio-visual work.

Main investment opportunities

• Feature films
• TV series
• Documentaries
• Animation

 

Enterprise Greece 

Tel: +30 210 335 5700

Fax: +30 210 324 2079

email: info@eg.gov.gr