Transport, Tourism, Energy Top China’s Greece Agenda

China has expressed interest in the areas of transport, telecommunications, energy and tourism in Greece, Alternate Economy Minister Stergios Pitsiorlas told a press conference recently following Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ visit to Beijing.

“Chinese business groups are beginning to systematically assess the investment potential of our country,” said Pitsiorlas, referring to a series of meetings with Chinese companies held last week “in order to present our country as an investment destination and to confirm the Greek government’s decision to support them in the implementation of their investment plans in Greece, but to also discuss immediate steps to accelerate their expansion”.

Pitsiorlas met with executives from Dalian Wanda, Beijing Urban Construction Group, ΗΝΑ, Zhong Fu Tian Di Group and Riverside Group, with investment proposals focusing on real estate (tourist, commercial, theme parks, sports tourism), film productions, financing cultural events, the promotion of tourist packages for Chinese tourists as well as logistics projects, airports, marinas, investments in health, medical and thermal spring tourism.

The Chinese are also eyeing the shipbuilding sector with the Greek government seeking to develop a strategy for the future of the Skaramangas Elefsina and Neorion shipyards as well as for the Perama shipbuilding area.

“China has demonstrated that Greece plays an important role in its strategy for economic expansion to the West, expected to generate 3 trillion dollars in trade and 40 billion dollars in investment,” Pitsiorlas concluded.