- Greek Equities – Foreign investment in Greek equities hit a record high last year with international investors accounting for 69.3% of the total market capitalization of the Athens Stock Exchange. According to data from the ASE, last year represented the fifth consecutive year that foreign investors have increased their holdings in Greek shares, with their participation rising to a peak of €82.8 billion at the end of September, up from about €60.9 billion at the end of 2024. Greece’s stock market was among Europe’s top performers last year rising more than 40% and is set to be upgraded by various index companies. MSCI Inc. is poised to reclassify Greece to Developed Market status from Emerging Market status later this year, while Greece will rejoin the FTSE Russell developed market index in September.
- Offshore Hydrocarbons – U.S. oil major Chevron and HELLENiQ ENERGY signed lease agreements with Greece to explore for hydrocarbons in four offshore blocks south of Crete and the Peloponnese. The blocks – South of Crete 1, South of Crete 2, South of the Peloponnese, and Block A2 – cover about 47,000 square kilometers and were awarded after an international tender in 2025. The leases are expected to be approved by Parliament in March, with exploration activities expected to commence in the second half of 2026.
- Renewable Energy – Greece reached a record high of 26,381 GWh of electricity generated from renewable sources, mainly wind and solar, which covered 46.7% of electricity demand in 2025. According to data from Green Tank, Greek electricity exports also reached an historic high last year of 3 TWh, with the country a net exporter in 11 of the 12 months of the year, compared with just five months in 2024. Recent Europe-wide data show Greece is among the top three producers of solar power in the European Union.
- Development Law – The Greek government has approved 112 new investment projects worth €553 million under its new Development Law, which focuses on manufacturing and economic development in select regions of the country, such as Macedonia, Thrace and the North Aegean. The projects include investments in manufacturing, metallurgy, chemicals, food, technology and tourism, are expected to create 1,500 new jobs, and will be supported with €289.5 million in public grants and tax exemptions.
- Startup Growth – Greece had the fastest-growing startup ecosystem in Europe last year, according to data by market research firm Pitchbook. A separate report by innovation platform Found.ation, says that in 2025, more than €732 million was invested through 95 deals in more than 90 Greek startups, representing a 35% increase over 2024. The report says that 18 venture capital funds and ten additional investment platforms are actively engaged in the Greek startup scene, which last year attracted 143 unique investors from around the world.
- Golden Visa – Greece approved 8,879 new residence permits through its Golden Visa program last year, marking a 95% increase compared to the 4,535 permits granted in 2024. The most significant relative increases were observed among investors from Turkey, Israel, China, Iran, and the U.S. The number of Turkish applicants rose 160% from one year earlier, accounting for 3,291 permits or 15.9% of the total visas issued. Israeli applicants increased by 91.5%, resulting in 636 visas. Chinese nationals continued to constitute the largest group of third-country applicants, comprising roughly half of all Golden Visas issued, with nearly 10,000 permits.
- Short-term Rentals – The number of active short-term rental properties in central Athens rose 11% last year to 14,326 units, up from 12,886 at the end of 2024, according to the analytics platform AirDNA. The largest increases were recorded in the most popular central neighborhoods including the Syntagma Square-Monastiraki-Plaka triangle and Kolonaki. Other areas that saw notable increases were the neighborhoods of Koukaki and Omonia Square.