Key Takeaways
- • Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged sovereign wealth funds and large institutional investors at the 18th Annual Meeting of the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF) in Athens to view Greece as an investment platform rather than a single-project destination.
- • Mitsotakis cited Greece's shift from net electricity importer to net exporter within roughly two years, driven largely by renewable generation, and renewed hydrocarbon exploration after about four decades.
- • Greece plans a €28 billion defence modernisation programme over the next 12 years, which the government says will also create opportunities for defence technology start-ups.
- • Mitsotakis named energy, electricity interconnections, data centres, digital transformation, manufacturing, agri-food and high-value tourism as priority sectors, noting more than 45 million visitors annually.
- • The IFSWF meeting, held November 11 to 13 under the theme "Sovereign Capital in a Contested World", gathers more than 200 sovereign wealth fund chairs and senior executives, with Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis also scheduled to attend.
Summary
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the 18th Annual Meeting of the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF) in Athens, urging some of the world's largest institutional investors to treat Greece as a platform for long-term opportunities across energy, infrastructure, technology and tourism rather than as a collection of isolated projects. According to The Greek Herald, Mitsotakis argued that the country has moved beyond post-crisis recovery to become a competitive destination for long-term capital, supported by stronger institutions and economic stability. He framed Greece's eurozone and NATO membership as offering investors a degree of predictability amid geopolitical uncertainty.
The meeting, held from November 11 to 13 under the theme "Sovereign Capital in a Contested World", brings together more than 200 sovereign wealth fund chairs and senior executives. The IFSWF represents funds that invest national reserves and surpluses across businesses, infrastructure and financial assets. The theme focuses on how major institutional investors are responding to geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and technological change.
Energy featured prominently in the address. Mitsotakis pointed to expanding renewable capacity and investment in electricity networks, interconnections and storage, and said Greece had become a net exporter of electricity after being a net importer two years earlier. The country is also resuming hydrocarbon exploration after roughly four decades. On tourism, he said the sector attracts more than 45 million visitors annually and called for a shift toward higher-value offerings supported by quality infrastructure and sustainable development.
Mitsotakis also outlined a planned €28 billion defence modernisation programme over the next 12 years, which he said would strengthen the Armed Forces and open opportunities for emerging technology companies and start-ups in defence innovation. He identified data centres, digital transformation, manufacturing and agri-food production as additional areas of potential. Greek Finance Minister and Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis is also scheduled to participate in the Athens gathering, which the country sees as an opportunity to showcase its economic transformation to influential long-term investors.
The meeting, held from November 11 to 13 under the theme "Sovereign Capital in a Contested World", brings together more than 200 sovereign wealth fund chairs and senior executives. The IFSWF represents funds that invest national reserves and surpluses across businesses, infrastructure and financial assets. The theme focuses on how major institutional investors are responding to geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and technological change.
Energy featured prominently in the address. Mitsotakis pointed to expanding renewable capacity and investment in electricity networks, interconnections and storage, and said Greece had become a net exporter of electricity after being a net importer two years earlier. The country is also resuming hydrocarbon exploration after roughly four decades. On tourism, he said the sector attracts more than 45 million visitors annually and called for a shift toward higher-value offerings supported by quality infrastructure and sustainable development.
Mitsotakis also outlined a planned €28 billion defence modernisation programme over the next 12 years, which he said would strengthen the Armed Forces and open opportunities for emerging technology companies and start-ups in defence innovation. He identified data centres, digital transformation, manufacturing and agri-food production as additional areas of potential. Greek Finance Minister and Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis is also scheduled to participate in the Athens gathering, which the country sees as an opportunity to showcase its economic transformation to influential long-term investors.
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