Ioannis Bratakos, President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), said Australia is a key market for Greece with potential for further economic cooperation between the two countries.
Bratakos who met with the Australian Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan, discussed strategies for strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and tourism.
According to a statement, “the meeting underscored the need for a strategic approach to increasing trade and investment between Greece and Australia”.
“Australia is a significant market for Greece, and there is great potential to expand our cooperation. Our meeting with the Australian Ambassador confirmed a shared commitment to increasing trade, investment, and tourism between our two countries,” Bratakos said in the statement.
The discussions focused on potential investment projects, particularly in renewable energy, tourism, and real estate. Ambassador Duncan also noted that Australian pension funds could play a significant role in financing large-scale investments in Greece.
The absence of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Australia and the European Union was cited as a key challenge, particularly for Greek food exports to Australia. Both parties stressed the importance of reviving FTA negotiations to enhance market access, particularly in the agricultural sector.
Bratakos stressed the need for targeted initiatives to promote Greek tourism in Australia.
Duncan acknowledged the possibility of establishing a direct flight route between Athens and Australia, which could significantly boost tourism and business travel.
The meeting followed recent developments in Greek tourism promotion, including the establishment of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) office in Melbourne, located in the 15-story Greek Community Cultural Centre. The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) has welcomed this move, seeing it as a key step in strengthening tourism ties between the two nations.
The discussion included potential Greek investments in Australia in the mining, renewable energy, and shipping. Student accommodation was also seen as an area for investment in Greece, given the increasing demand for housing in university cities.
In addition to the FTA, the two sides noted the pending bilateral agreement on double taxation avoidance, which could further facilitate cross-border investments.
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