Economy Minister Hatzidakis inaugurates booth of TIF honoree Bulgaria in Thessaloniki

The Greek state’s obligation is to help all those affected by extreme weather phenomena and to activate every possible funding for them at EU and national level, National Economy and Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said at the 87th Thessaloniki International fair (TIF) on Saturday.

Hatzidakis was inaugurating the Bulgarian booth in the presence of three ministers from the Republic of Bulgaria: Bogdan Bogdanov (Economy and Industry), Assen Vassilev (Finance), and Zaritsa Dinkova (Tourism). Bulgaria, this year’s honored country, has been participating in the fair since its start in 1926.

Speaking of the pavilion’s inauguration, Hatzidakis said it occurred “at extremely difficult moments for both countries, which is the reason there is no official inauguration with the presence of the prime ministers of both countries – Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Nikolai Denkov – could take place. Our country is facing the repercussions of an extreme, unprecedented weather phenomenon that unfortunately leaves behind it the loss of human lives and equally unprecedented destruction.” Greece’s thoughts are with the victims’ families, but also with Bulgarian citizens at Tsarevo and the coast of the Black Sea, where loss of human lives and great catastrophe has occurred in the past few days, Hatzidakis said, expressing Greece’s condolences.

Hatzidakis also welcomed Greece’s upgrade of its economy and reacquisition of investment grade rating by DBRS Morningstar, and he also underlined TIF’s historic role in Thessaloniki and Greece, describing it as a great tool in Greece’s efforts for a more extroverted economy