ULYSSES P. KYRIACOPOULOS Chairman of the Federation of Greek Industries

OVERNMENT action to remove barriers, cut bureaucracy and make Greece a better place to do business has the full support of the Federation of Greek Industries, the leading independent employers’ organization.

Ulysses P. Kyriacopoulos, the Federation’s Chairman, believes the country is on the right track and that the economy will continue to grow significantly, firmly supported by planned public and private investments and strong private consumption.

Mr. Kyriacopoulos says the Olympics have demonstrated to the world what Greece is capable of accomplishing and that the positive effects on the nation’s image will persist long after the event.

“There is the Greece of today and there is the Greece of the past. With the success of theOlympic Games we have shown the world that we have a future,” he says.

“Greece possesses people who are well educated, speak languages, have skills, talent, and professionalism, and know their neighboring countries and their cultures very well.”

Mr. Kyriacopoulos points out that Greece possesses the basic infrastructure to serve as a regional hub and a gateway to the markets of other countries in the region.

Areas that he highlights as having strong potential include the food and beverage sector, the oil refining sector, plastics, packaging, transportation, electronic equipment, and software development.

“There are big opportunities in services, especially when you look regionally,” he says. “Without including Turkey, we are talking about a region of 40 to 50 million people, and 120 to 130 million people if you look further east. Promising sectors include energy and tourism, in which many new projects such as spas and marinas, are being developed.”