Toronto Economic Forum II-Papathanasis sees strengthening of bilateral relations between Greece and Canada

Alternate Finance Minister Nikos Papathanasis “sees” the strengthening of the bilateral relations between Greece and Canada in the coming years.

Papathanasis was speaking at the Toronto Economic Forum II, organized on Monday, by the Delphi Economic Forum in collaboration with the Hellenic Initiative-Canada, the Hellenic-Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Hellenic-Canadian Board of Trade, and “mapped” the fields where bilateral cooperation could be developed.

“What I see in the coming years is the two countries strengthening their bilateral relations. We have a trade surplus, but we could see more Greek companies interested in entering the Canadian market and the North American market, and also Canadian companies entering the European market through Greece,” said Papathanasis, who participated in a discussion on the perspectives in the new economy for innovation and partnership between Canada and Greece (with the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada Francois-Philippe Champagne).

“We have many things in common with Canada, we have many areas where we could cooperate. First of all, we are two countries that are on the same side of history and I think this gives us the background for cooperation,” added Papathanasis, who detailed the areas where bilateral cooperation could be further developed, such as energy, the pharmaceutical and agri-food sectors, digitization, Artificial Intelligence, etc.

Moreover, he said that “Greece has growth rates that we have not seen in the past, it has growth rates three times the average growth rate of Europe, as well as surpluses.”

He also referred to the ongoing major projects (construction of the liquefied natural gas terminal – FSRU, in Alexandroupolis, etc.) that can make our country an energy hub, but also to the development dynamics recorded by Renewable Energy Sources, which, as he said , could be another area of cooperation between Greece and Canada.

“We can also cooperate in this specific field. Greece is progressing very quickly. We want 70% of our energy needs to be covered by renewable energy sources by 2028. Now we cover 50% and there are days when we cover 100%,” he noted while also pointing out the great increase presented by the photovoltaic sector.

On his part, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne noted that bilateral relations “are in a good place but much more can be done”.

“I don’t think we have used the full potential of these relations,” said the Canadian minister, while referring – among others – to the CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) agreement with the EU that can act as a catalyst to take greater steps.

Greece is in a very strategic location on the planet and I hope that more and more will take advantage of its market as a stepping stone for their development in other markets of the region, just as Greek companies could attempt to tap the markets of North America through Canada.