Numerous Greek -American organizations co -organized a lunch in honor of the Prime Minister in New York
As in previous years, numerous Greek -American organizations co -organized a lunch in honor of the Prime Minister Kyriakou Mitsotakis at the Union League Club in New York.
Mr. Mitsotakis, in his speech to the expatriates, emphasized Greece’s transition from the crisis to one of Europe’s fastest growing economies.
He recalled that “ten years ago, France borrowed at 1%. Greece borrowed 10%. And now Greece’s borrowing costs are lower than France. ” This, he said, proves “the resilience of the Greek people and the impact that the good economic policies can have.”
The prime minister said the economy is growing twice as high as the eurozone average, with over 30 billion euros in foreign investment in the last five years and 36 million tourists in 2025. But he noted that success is not just tourism. “These are renewable energy, logistics, infrastructure, services, Greece as a health hub and as an educational hub in the region,” the prime minister said.
Mr Mitsotakis announced that “for the first time, non -profit private universities will be operating in Greece since October, attracting students from abroad”.
He also referred to the development of technology and start -ups that contributed to the reversal of Brain Drain. “For the first time we had more Greeks to return to the country than those who left,” he said, according to RES.
The prime minister called on the Greeks of the Diaspora to participate in the December 7th Work Conference in New York, where 50 top employers will seek staff.
The prime minister emphasized the importance of Greece as an energy hub. “Six years ago we imported gas only for our own needs. Today, 17 billion cubic meters pass through Greece because we are an energy security provider for the Balkans. ” He also welcomed the offers of Chevron and ExxonMobil for research south of Crete.
“I was very happy that a few days ago, Chevron, after Exxon Mobil, submitted an official bid to explore offshore deposits south of Crete. It is a move that confirms our sovereign rights on the one hand, and reaffirms our confidence.
When one looks at the United States, which shows a keen interest in exports of liquefied natural gas, and looks at Greece, which acts as a gateway not only for the Greek market but also for the whole region, perceives our strategic role, ”the prime minister said.
He also underlined synergies with the US, noting that “Greek shipowners are controlling just over a quarter of the world’s LNG fleet”.
Mr Mitsotakis emphasized that “we are already spending more than 3% of our GDP on defense to always defend our sovereignty and sovereign rights.” He referred to the F-35 receipt by the US before the end of the decade, the arrival of the “Kimon” frigate within the year, and a total defense investments of 28 billion euros in the next decade.
“And when one compares where Greece was six years ago and where it is today, it is clear that we have substantially upgraded our defensive potential. We are in the process of acquiring F-35 fighters from the United States, which will reach before the end of the decade.
Next year will be extremely important for our Navy. We have already purchased four state -of -the -art French frigates. The first of them, “Kimon”, will arrive in Greece before the end of the year. We are also upgrading the F-16 aircraft and will spend more than 28 billion euros on defense over the next decade, ”he said.
The prime minister pointed out the empowerment of ties with expatriate Hellenism. “For the first time I feel that these bonds … are becoming stronger,” he said. It announced an increase in the Foreign Ministry’s budget by 25m euros for better support for diplomats.
In closing, he underlined the need to honor Greeks and Greek Americans who supported the country. “It is our obligation to welcome and honor those who kept Greece close to their hearts and stood by us in difficult times.”