Greece’s economy is growing faster than the eurozone and is on track to maintain solid momentum through the rest of the decade, the country’s central bank governor said, urging a major push in investment to boost productivity and secure long-term growth.
Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras said the Greek economy expanded by 2% in the first nine months of 2025, beating the eurozone average of 1.5%, as consumer spending, exports and rising investment continued to support the recovery.
Speaking to the board of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Stournaras said Greece is expected to grow at an average annual rate of about 2.1% from 2025 through 2028, according to central bank forecasts.
Mr. Stournaras said investment is becoming a stronger engine of growth, with revised data showing total investment reached about 17% of gross domestic product in 2025, up sharply from 11% in 2019, driven mainly by private-sector spending.
Since the pandemic, investment has added an average of 1.9 percentage points to annual growth in Greece, compared with just 0.3 percentage points in the eurozone, he said.
However, he warned Greece still trails the euro area, where investment remains near 21% of GDP, underscoring the need for further capital spending to close the gap.
Mr. Stournaras said fiscal discipline, continued reforms and stronger investor confidence have underpinned the rebound, along with Greece’s return to investment-grade credit ratings in 2023.
He said improved bank balance sheets, lower nonperforming loans and stronger capital positions have enabled banks to expand lending to businesses, while borrowing costs fell significantly in 2025.
Despite increased global uncertainty, Mr. Stournaras said domestic investment is expected to remain resilient this year.
Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Yiannis Bratakos said many small and medium-sized enterprises still face barriers to financing, even as the banking system improves.
He said Greece has entered a new phase after restoring fiscal credibility, with the main challenge now shifting to converting stability into higher productivity, stronger investment and greater export activity.
Mr. Bratakos cited high interest costs, strict lending standards and limited financial preparedness as key reasons many firms remain outside the credit system.
He said banks must play a broader role as development partners, while the Bank of Greece is central to maintaining financial stability and steering funding toward productive and sustainable companies.
Mr. Bratakos said durable growth depends on a stable financial environment and healthy, well-financed businesses capable of investing and modernizing.