- Greek Economy – Greece’s economy grew at a revised 2.3% rate in 2023, up from a previous 2% estimate, on a 6.6% increase in investment, up from a previous estimate of 4%, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority. The new estimates were the result of a European Union-mandated review of national accounts for the period 1995-2022. As a result, Greece’s nominal GDP was revised €5 billion higher to €225.2 billion from €220.3 billion previously.
- Bank Privatization – Greece’s special bank support fund raised €690 million from the sale of a 10% stake in National Bank of Greece amid strong demand from investors. The sale is the latest in a series of privatizations of Greece’s major lenders this year by the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund, a special fund created to help stabilize the banking sector during the financial crisis.
- Road Privatization – Parliament approved the 25-year concession of the Attiki Odos ring road, the major east-west highway stretching across the northern suburbs of Athens. The contract was awarded to Greek construction and energy conglomerate GEK TERNA, which paid €3.27 billion for the contract.
- LNG Facility – Greece’s newly-built liquefied natural gas facility in the northern port of Alexandroupolis began commercial operations on October 1 with the arrival of its first cargo. The facility consists of a floating storage and regasification unit and a pipeline connecting it to Greece’s natural gas grid through which it will be able to deliver natural gas throughout Southeast Europe.
- Data Center – UK data center company Apto, a subsidiary of U.S. investment fund PIMCO, has partnered with Greece’s Dromeus Capital Group, to develop a state-of-the-art €300 million hyperscale data center facility near Athens. In an announcement, the company cited Greece’s strategic location, its rapidly developing digital infrastructure and its abundant renewable energy sources as reasons for initiating the project.
- Athens Hotels – A new survey by consulting firm Deloitte named Athens as one of the Top 10 European cities for hotel investment in 2025. The same survey last year ranked Athens as the 11th most attractive European city for hotel investments.
- United Airlines – Leading American air carrier United Airlines will increase the number of non-stop seasonal flights to Athens for the summer of 2025, with services to New York, Chicago and Washington, DC. Overall, the airline’s seat capacity between Greece and the U.S. will increase by nearly 30% next year.
- CERN President – University of Ioannina Distinguished Professor Konstantinos Fountas was elected President of the Council of CERN, Europe’s leading nuclear and particle physics research laboratory, for a two-year term from 2025 to 2027. Prof. Fountas is currently the Greek representative to CERN and his selection as president is a first for Greece.