Ioannis Bratakos, President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), and Australian Ambassador to Greece Alison Duncan met to discuss deepening economic ties between Greece and Australia. According to an ACCI statement, their talks focused on leveraging a $3.5 billion Australian pension fund to finance major Greek investment projects, particularly in high-growth fields like renewable energy and tourism.
A key hurdle identified was the lack of a free trade agreement (FTA), which hampers Greek food exports to Australia. Both Bratakos and Duncan emphasized the urgency of resuming FTA negotiations, especially to address Australia’s access to Europe’s agricultural market.
Bratak underscored the untapped potential of the Australian market for Greek tourism, advocating for increased tourist flows and targeted promotional efforts. He also highlighted Australia as a vital economic partner for Greece. Meanwhile, Duncan raised the prospect of establishing a direct flight between Athens and Australia to boost connectivity.
The pair also examined investment prospects, including opportunities in Greece’s tourism, renewable energy, and real estate sectors, as well as potential Greek investments in Australia, notably in minerals, renewable energy, and shipping.
ECONOMY / Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 19:46:42 / Source: ANA-MPA