The Prime Minister of Greece, addressed the delegates of the 17th Annual Capital Link Forum in New York via a televised message as follows:

“I am very glad to address your forum. It is a great opportunity to present the prospects of Greek economy and the strategic planning to fulfill them. It has been almost a year since the Greek people authorized us to challenge the harsh austerity programs that were imposed on Greece.

We negotiated hard, asking for true reforms that enhance growth and do not shrink our economy’s potential.

We ended up with a compromising agreement that contains, for the first time: lower fiscal targets, more European investment funds and the clear commitment for a debt relief.

Those three aspects, combined, are a crucial stepping stone to restart our economy and tackle the huge unemployment that threatens our social cohesion.

At the elections of last September, our people confirmed their trust in us and gave us the mandate to apply as fast as possible the program and regain our access back to international markets, and therefore our independence.

In this stable political environment we take advantage of widespread consensus to promote a set of drastic policy reforms and changes that our society needs. In this respect:

We simplify our tax system and we combat tax evasion. That, creates a stable and investment friendly environment,

We put into place an anti-bureaucratic legal and operational framework for investment,

We enact radical public administration reforms by hitting corruption and favor meritocracy and evaluation,

We create synergies between the public and the private sector that allow investments to flourish,

We take measures to reform our judicial system,

We upgrade and modernize bankruptcy law.

Within a challenging international environment, we managed to recapitalize systemic banks, mainly by attracting private investors. Their response is a reward for our efforts and a message that we are on track with respect to our commitments.

The Greek GDP is expected to return to positive growth rates in the second half of 2016. Meanwhile, the impending lifting of waiver and the expected integration of Greek bonds from the ECB in QE program in 2016 will give us the stimulus to get in the capital markets.

We are optimistic that we will succeed and achieve easy access to finance both for the public sector and the enterprises. The geostrategic position of our country elevates us in energy and transit hub. As far as the energy sector is concerned, development prospects in areas such as pipelines, gas, green energy, could attract high quality investments.   At the same time, the sector of logistics and infrastructure projects are important ones. A series of infrastructure public investments will start immediately. Funding opportunities for public and private investment, through the so-called “Juncker Plan”, do exist, but we will always be open to attracting new investment capital. Tourism has been developing for three years in a row and established our country as a top quality destination worldwide.  The upgrading of physical and urban planning opens more investment prospects in luxury, medical and other alternative forms of tourism.

In the shipping sector the world domination of the Greek-owned fleet is clear proof of what the Greek people are capable to do if they find the necessary means and invest in their skills. We recognize our weaknesses but we try to transform them into strengths and opportunities.

At the same time, we exploit our comparative advantages. We invite you to trust us.”