Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis laid out the country’s comparative advantages in the fields of technology and innovation in an interview with the French financial newspaper Les Echos. The French newspaper highlights the Greek PM’s achievements in the country’s digital transformation since he took office in 2019.
Mitsotakis expressed his belief that Greece was on track to becoming the next “start-up” nation, emphasizing his desire for start-ups to contribute 10% to the GDP in the long term.
The Greek premier said the growth of start-ups in Greece was “impressive” over the past years, adding that Greece had exceptional talent to offer in the field. Mitsotakis underlined the aim was to diversify the Greek economy beyond tourism and hospitality to sectors like high-tech, innovation, and engineering.
He went on to provide examples of initiatives and actions that attracted investment in the creation of large data centers.
“We have an abundance of renewable energy sources, which facilitates the provision of more affordable power to data centers,” he stated. A significant portion of the European Recovery Fund is being directed toward technology, while major telecom providers have committed to doubling their investments in Greece, recognizing the country’s strong potential.
“I also believe that—in the emerging geography of data centers and in terms of data connectivity—Greece must leverage its strategic geographic position,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis added.
Commenting on the rapid digital transformation in the country, Mitsotakis said his government has achieved great progress and would continue to incorporate new digitalized services.
On whether Greece could play a leading role in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), the Greek premier noted that the country’s size gave it a comparative advantage, as it could undertake multiple projects concurrently and in a concentrated manner.
“In any case, we want to become a leading force in artificial intelligence innovation within public administration,” the official stated, emphasizing a strong interest in developing AI applications that will simplify the functioning of public services.
