- Greek Exports – Greek non-oil exports rose more than 2% last year despite a difficult worldwide trading environment with Greek products showing continued resilience and competitiveness in international markets. The value of non-oil exports, including ships, last year totaled €36.09 billion, a 2.3% increase over 2023. Excluding volatile trade data on both oil and ships, Greek exports last year reached €35.9 billion, a 2.4% increase over the prior year. Total exports including both petroleum products and ships, however, fell slightly to €49.9 billion, down 2.2% from 2023.
- Greek Budget – The Greek government outperformed its budget goals producing a primary surplus equal to 3.6% of GDP in 2024, compared with 1.7% of GDP in the same period in 2023. According to the Bank of Greece, the primary surplus over-performed by €4.0 billion in 2024. It attributed the outperformance to higher revenue collections related, in part, to the Attica ring road concession agreement, lower primary expenditures on social security funds and military expenditures, as well as reduced outlays under the public investment budget.
- Shipping Industry – Greece’s shipping sector remains one of the powerhouses of the economy, contributing more than €14 billion to GDP, according to report by the Union of Greek Shipowners. The report notes that Greek interests control more than 5,000 vessels, while Athens is home to more than 750 ship management companies. Combined, the sector creates 60,000 direct jobs and supports another 90,000 indirectly.
- Golden Visas – Applications for Greece’s Golden Visa reached a record high of 9,289 in 2024, rising 9.6% above the previous record set in 2023. The program, which grants five-year residency to non-European Union nationals in exchange for investments in select Greek assets, has helped fuel demand for real estate around the country. According to estimates, the total applications submitted represent €2.32 billion in property investments.
- Gov.gr – Greece’s cutting-edge online public services platform, gov.gr, now offers 2,073 services following the addition of new applications relating to car and motorcycle licenses. The government also recently added further tax functionalities to the platform along with the creation of a new application – myAADE – to streamline tax transactions with the Independent Authority for Public Revenue.
- Chevron – U.S. oil giant Chevron, the world’s second largest private hydrocarbon producer, has expressed interest in exploring natural gas deposits in the maritime area southwest of the Peloponnese and west of Crete. It joins rival U.S. energy giant ExxonMobil, which is also exploring in the area. The presence of two major international oil companies exploring in Greek waters, along with the recent development of cross-border energy infrastructure and investments in renewable energy, underscores the country’s growing role as a regional energy hub.
- Greek President – Parliament elected veteran conservative lawmaker Constantine Tassoulas to a five-year term as President of Greece. Mr. Tassoulas has served as Speaker of Parliament, Culture Minister and Deputy Defense Minister. He succeeds Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Greece’s first female president, whose term ends in March.
- Enterprise Greece – New Democracy Member of Parliament Tasos Chatzivasileiou has been appointed as the new Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy and Openness, a role in which he will act as Chairman of the Board of Enterprise Greece. He replaces outgoing Deputy Minister Kostas Fragogiannis, who will take on a role as special advisor to the Prime Minister.
- Extroversion Strategy – Enterprise Greece presented the 2025 National Extroversion Strategy at the 7th annual meeting of the public-private national Extroversion Council. This year, the agency expects to participate in 90 international exhibitions and take new initiatives to support the Export Helpdesk and the Enterprise Greece Exports Academy. It foresees the approval of 17 strategic projects worth €2.3 billion, and the promotion of investments through 32 international actions. Separately, Enterprise Greece Chairman Tasos Chatzivasileiou announced to the Extroversion Council that it will be elevated to a standing government Committee on Extroversion.