Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Theoharis’ meetings and interventions during the 89th Thessaloniki International Fair (Thessaloniki, 6-7 September 2025)

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, responsible for Economic Diplomacy and Extroversion, Harry Theoharis, held a series of important meetings and interventions during the 89th Thessaloniki International Fair.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs met with representatives of productive and export organizations, including the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) and the Greek Exporters Association (SEVE). The discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities faced by Greek businesses in the new international environment.

He then participated as a speaker at the "Imerisia" Conference, where he emphasized that "the key issue for businesses is a stable and predictable environment". He also highlighted that "there can be no change in the production model without extraversion." He addressed the impact of tariffs on competitiveness and stressed the need to expand into new markets, as part of the new National Extraversion Strategy.

Mr. Theoharis then held meetings with representatives of chambers of commerce, and in the afternoon, he was the keynote speaker at an event co-organized by the Central Union of Greek Chambers and the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce.

The central theme of all interventions and meetings was the presentation of the National Extraversion Strategy, which was recently approved by the Government Council for Foreign Policy, chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The Strategy sets an ambitious yet realistic goal: strengthening the extraversion of small and medium-sized enterprises and increasing exports by 8 billion euros by 2030. It is based on five central pillars:

The transformation of Enterprise Greece into a comprehensive extraversion hub, with a new structure and active participation from the private sector. This includes innovative actions to enhance the Greek brand, such as Greek Houses (gastronomy and Greek product hubs similar to EATALY), the byGreece platform that will function as a marketplace for exporters, and the myGreece certification program with clear quality standards.

The reform of Export Credit Greece, including the creation of subsidiaries for short-term credit insurance and factoring, as well as partnerships with the European Investment Bank.

The establishment of a Government Extraversion Committee for more effective coordination and monitoring of the Trade Facilitation Roadmap, including the full digitization of customs procedures.

A five-year Extraversion Plan (2026-2030) with targeted actions for each market and sector, measurable goals, and continuous updates in cooperation with stakeholders.

Other actions, such as the "Extraversion of Small and Medium Enterprises" program, the new Hellenic Aid framework for humanitarian and development assistance, the Extraversion Observatory and the Export Academy.

As Mr. Theoharis stated: "We should not forget that the current account deficit, and especially the trade deficit, was one of the two deficits that led the country into the economic crisis. Therefore, driving the economy toward greater extraversion is critical for the development and resilience of the country in the coming years. Five key areas of change are needed: better strategic targeting, focus on measurable results, enhanced cooperation with the private sector, more coordination, and cohesive action, so we can achieve the desired outcome".

As part of his interventions at the 89th TIF, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs addressed the Enterprise Greece event on "Macedonia: Pillar of Development and Innovation in Southeast Europe", emphasizing the strategic role of Northern Greece in the country's development and extroversion. He focused in particular on the region's export potential and the importance of innovation as a key factor in attracting investment.

On Sunday, Mr. Theoharis participated in the main event of Enterprise Greece titled "Greece - A Strategic Partner in a Changing World", where he emphasized the continuous strengthening of the country's international position in a constantly changing geoeconomic environment. He presented the new National Extraversion Plan, which aims to improve the competitiveness of Greek businesses, open new markets, upgrade the national brand, and further strengthen Greece as an attractive and reliable investment destination.

During the two-day event, the Deputy Minister toured the exhibition booths, where he had the opportunity to converse with exhibitors and business representatives, gaining insights into the prospects, investment opportunities, and challenges they are facing.

On Saturday, he welcomed Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Enterprise Greece booth, where they had a brief conversation about economic diplomacy and the strategy of extraversion, as part of the Prime Minister's official visit to the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).

September 7, 2025