Economic Diplomacy: Strategy and Mechanisms for Extroversion

Economic Diplomacy constitutes a key pillar of contemporary foreign policy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs designs and implements a coherent strategy for the development of the Greek economy, promoting business extroversion and attracting investments, while simultaneously strengthening Greece’s bilateral and multilateral economic relations.

Institutional Framework and Strategy

The strategy of Economic Diplomacy is formulated by the Deputy Minister for Economic Diplomacy and implemented by the General Secretariat for International Economic Affairs. Operating under its supervision are:

• The B’ General Directorate for International Economic Affairs: Responsible for strategic planning and coordination of actions at bilateral level, as well as for the representation of the country at European level (within the framework of the Common Commercial Policy) and in multilateral economic organizations (OECD, WTO, etc.).

• The Network of Offices for Economic and Commercial Affairs (ECA Offices): As departments of Greece’s Missions Abroad, the ECA Offices constitute the main channels of economic diplomacy in international markets. They function as bridges of communication between the Greek business community and local markets, providing specialized information, market analyses and support in overcoming obstacles. Their activity is promoted through the Agora Portal, the central digital platform providing market studies, “Doing Business” guides and information on business opportunities by country. In addition, the new digital service MyOEYLive offers Greek extrovert enterprises, as well as foreign companies interested in investing in Greece, the possibility of holding digital meetings with the specialized staff of the local ECA Offices.

• International Development Cooperation: Through the Z’ General Directorate (Hellenic Aid), Greece implements policies of international development and humanitarian cooperation, strengthening its international footprint and stability in the wider region.

Operational Bodies and Support

Key national bodies operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are integrated into the extroversion mechanism:

• Enterprise Greece (Hellenic Investment and Foreign Trade Company S.A.): Serves as Greece’s national agency for foreign direct investment attraction and export promotion. It implements a broad spectrum of actions, such as organizing national pavilions at international exhibitions and business missions in Greece and abroad, participating in international events and fora, as well as providing tailor-made information to investors.

• Export Credit Greece (Hellenic Export Credit Agency S.A.): Provides credit insurance against political and commercial risks associated with the export and investment activity of Greek companies, as well as financial tools for the development of the export activity of Greek companies and the internationalization of the Greek economy. Furthermore, it provides export credits and insurance coverage to foreign companies active in projects of strategic importance for the Greek economy, thus strengthening the extroversion of Greek enterprises and their participation in major international projects.

The Extroversion Strategy, which is also reflected in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Strategic Plan, is implemented through the coordinated work of the competent Directorates of the Ministry, the ECA Offices, Enterprise Greece and Export Credit Greece, under the coordination of the General Secretariat for International Economic Affairs.

Export Promotion & Investment Attraction

Promoting Greece to potential investors and supporting exports constitute priorities implemented through targeted actions highlighting the country’s comparative advantages.

Statistical Overview 2025

Greek extroversion reached particularly high levels in 2025. Total exports amounted to EUR 58.4 billion (increase of 6.2%), while exports of goods excluding petroleum products reached EUR 39.1 billion. The share of exports in GDP increased to 48.5%. In the investment sector, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows reached EUR 8.2 billion, with emphasis on renewable energy sources, information technology and logistics. At the same time, 12 new major investment projects were approved under the Strategic Investments framework, with a total budget of EUR 2.4 billion.

Priorities and Institutional Safeguards

Energy Diplomacy

Greece is strengthening its role as an energy hub in Europe by promoting the diversification of energy sources and routes, energy security and interconnectivity, in cooperation with partner countries. In this context, it is developing strategic natural gas infrastructure and international energy interconnections, while at the same time investing in the promotion of green energy through electricity interconnection projects, Renewable Energy Sources (RES), energy storage, and green hydrogen.

FDI Screening Mechanism (Law 5202/2024)

As of 2025, the Foreign Direct Investment screening mechanism has been fully implemented, ensuring that investments in sectors of critical importance (infrastructure, energy, technology) are reviewed for reasons of national security, in accordance with the relevant European regulatory framework.

Overall, Greek economic diplomacy promotes and supports a sustainable and outward-looking development model, with emphasis on innovation, the green transition and the resilience of international supply chains.