JOURNALIST: Another war is being waged in our neighbourhood. How concerned are you about other countries potentially being involved in the Israel-Hamas war, and how can this be avoided?
K. FRAGOGIANNIS: The Middle East is currently a major test for all of us, both regionally and globally, and is at the forefront of all Western and Arab countries' foreign policy.
Greece, faithful and consistent in its principled foreign policy, has from the very first moment maintained a balanced stance, respecting the principles and values of international law and acting as a force for stability in the region. We have earned significant diplomatic capital as a result of our stance. We are talking with credibility to both the Arab world and Israel, and our goal is to prevent further escalation and spread of the crisis throughout the region.
All of our efforts are focused on this goal, and, simultaneously, we are working on all scenarios in order to be prepared for any development.
JOURNALIST: We have been informed that your first meeting with your Turkish counterpart, Burak Akçapar to promote the positive agenda between Athens and Ankara was productive. The milestone is the High -Level Cooperation Council to be convened in Thessaloniki on December 7. Do you expect the current circumstances, as well as Erdogan's harsh rhetoric against the West to further complicate the situation?
K. FRAGOGIANNIS: It was my second meeting on Positive Agenda issues (on October 16) with Burak Akçapar, who succeeded Sedat Önal in this position, and the 5th meeting overall between the two sides under the initiative. I would like to briefly recall that in April 2021 the Positive Agenda initiative was agreed between the Foreign Ministers of Greece and Türkiye with the goal of fostering cooperation on low policy issues, mainly economic in nature, which facilitate trade, movement, business collaborations, and tourism.
Burak Akçapar and I share the same desire to proceed swiftly with the signing of a number of mature agreements, and I hope that the current climate of calm persists, and that communication and collaboration continue in accordance with international law and in good faith.
JOURNALIST: South Korea, India, and Saudi Arabia are three countries that you have visited with the aim of a broader economic and investment cooperation. What did you get out of these trips?
K. FRAGOGIANNIS: Allow me to first emphasize that these trips - we have not yet been to India, but it is one of our goals - are carried out on the basis of the annual National Strategic Plan for Extroversion, which has been established since 2021, and in which Economic Diplomacy actions are systematically and purposefully recorded, in perfect harmony and in service of the country's foreign policy objectives for the defense of national interests.
In terms of the outcomes of these trips, the larger picture is Greece's increased visibility in large and dynamic markets throughout the world, as well as the cementing of its role as a pillar of security and prosperity in the Southeast Mediterranean region and a gateway to the European market. Simultaneously, these countries' interest in investing in Greece is growing. The visits to Greece by government officials from the aforementioned nations serve as evidence for this. The recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on August 25, 2023, after 40 years, accompanied by major Indian entrepreneurs, and the even more recent visit of South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, on October 13, are both indicative and typical.
JOURNALIST: Greece is becoming an investment destination, and especially since regaining its investment grade rating, many of the world's most important countries see Greece as a potential place for their business activities. What are your next steps?
K. FRAGOGIANNIS: Attracting investment is one of Economic Diplomacy's three goals, along with increasing exports and enhancing Greece's presence in international markets. And I believe we're doing great. Even in the current environment of global economic challenges, Greece is strengthening its standing as an appealing investment destination and a reliable business partner.
Also, of particular interest to us are the qualitative attributes of investments. We prioritize cutting-edge and innovative sectors, including digital transition, renewable energy sources, and green economy. Our primary objective at this time is to enhance business partnerships with European countries as well. I will be in Düsseldorf and Frankfurt, Germany, in the near future, for meetings and contacts with the business communities there. Our plans for early 2024 also include a targeted mission to the Baltic countries.
JOURNALIST: What can we expect from the Prime Minister's trip to China, given that it is a global economic superpower?
K. FRAGOGIANNIS: We are bound to China by a strong institutional framework of mutually beneficial cooperation in many areas, based on respect, understanding, common principles and values enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
As an example, I note that in 2022, Greek imports from China reached a record high of 7.9 billion euros. In order to achieve a more balanced trade relationship with China, we are participating in the annual Shanghai Trade Fair, which opens on November 5, in order to promote the penetration of high quality Greek agricultural and industrial products in the Chinese market.
Moreover, our presence there is a unique opportunity to highlight the potential for expanding investment partnerships - beyond COSCO's prominent investment in the port of Piraeus - in areas such as energy (including renewable and alternative sources) tourism and agriculture.
JOURNALIST: Our country has invested a lot in the Renewable Energy Sources. What are the projects that will enhance our goal to become a natural gas gateway and what is the time horizon?
K. FRAGOGIANNIS: The emphasis on Renewable Energy Sources (RES) serves the dual objective of environmental sustainability and the necessity to diversify sources, energy routes, and corridors to assure sufficiency and independence. Our country achieved a historically high percentage of 54% of power generation from RES in May 2023, and we plan to meet the national target of 80% by 2027.
As a number of land and sea projects are planned and constructed, the country is increasingly consolidating its position as a hub for energy transfer and interconnectivity between Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. These include the TAP and IGB pipelines, the Greece-North Macedonia interconnector, the FSRU Alexandroupolis, as well as the prospect of developing more FSRUs plants around Greece.
November 4, 2023