A decade after his country imposed capital controls to avert financial collapse, Greek Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis declared Thursday that Greece is “stronger than ever,” pointing to robust growth and a massive budget surplus as evidence of a historic turnaround.
Speaking at the annual Economist conference in Athens, Mr. Pierrakakis called the country’s recovery from the brink of bankruptcy a “miracle,” crediting the resilience of the Greek people.
He highlighted a primary surplus of 4.8% of GDP and a growth rate of 2.3% as proof of the nation’s restored fiscal stability.
“We have fiscal stability and technological progress that help us tackle tax evasion,” he said, outlining a forward-looking strategy to further strengthen the economy.
Mr. Pierrakakis said the government’s goal is to continue transforming Greece’s economic model from one based on consumption to one driven by exports and investment.
He noted that exports as a share of the economy have surged from 10% in 2019 to 42% today, with a target of reaching 60%.
To achieve this, he detailed a plan focused on reducing bureaucracy through new digital platforms, fostering the growth of leading Greek companies, and moving forward with privatizations through the state’s asset development fund.
The minister’s confident address comes as Greece seeks to reassure international investors and the public of its economic stability amid recent global uncertainty and domestic political challenges.