The 2nd Athens Riviera Summit, held from October 1-3, 2025 at Asteria Glyfadas, highlighted Greece’s ambition to become a political and economic bridge between Europe and the Middle East, in line with the country’s National Outward-Looking Strategy.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Haris Theocharis emphasized Greece’s strategic position: “Greece is at the edge of Europe, but when you include the Middle East, we are at its very center. Our goal is to become a bridge, politically and economically, to enhance cooperation and promote shared prosperity.” Representatives from India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were in attendance.
During discussions with H.E. Mohammad Alhawi, UAE Deputy Minister of Investment, both sides highlighted emerging sectors for collaboration, including artificial intelligence, aligning with the UAE’s technological strategy. Theocharis noted that Greece is seen as a gateway to Europe, a sentiment echoed by Alhawi.
National Outward-Looking Strategy Dimitris Skalkos, Secretary-General for International Economic Relations and Outward-Looking Strategy, outlined the strategy, approved last month, featuring:
- A five-year strategic plan (2026-2030) with defined priorities.
- Transformation of Enterprise Greece into an integrated service provider and dynamic investor for all stages of investment.
- Reform of Export Credit Greece, creating two subsidiaries for short-term credit insurance and factoring of business receivables.
Financing and Recovery Fund Aikaterini Oikonomou, Secretary-General of the Public Investment Program, expressed confidence that Greece will fully leverage resources from the Recovery Fund for entrepreneurship and infrastructure. Meanwhile, Konstantinos Angelopoulos, Deputy CEO of the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund, emphasized supporting bankable projects, ensuring measurable and technically sound investment plans.
Security at the Forefront
Security emerged as the key challenge across the Balkan infrastructure system. Ministers from Greece, Bulgaria, and Cyprus highlighted resilience, connectivity, and regional cooperation in transportation and defense. Transport Minister Christos Dimas and counterparts committed to coordinated action across the Balkans, with Karadjov of Bulgaria urging vision, coordination, and decisiveness, and Cyprus’ Alex Vafeiadis emphasizing connectivity as a pathway to trade, cultural export, and improved quality of life.
Strategic Investments and AI
Antigoni Lymberopoulou, CEO of the Hellenic Development Investment Bank, acknowledged the need to focus on large-scale investment projects, with the Athens Riviera serving as a flagship example, slated for upgrades worth €200 million per kilometer by 2030. Discussions also explored the role of AI in enhancing competitiveness and business transformation, with contributions from Simon Blagden CBE, Dimitris Primpas (IBM Greece & Cyprus), and Afroditi Sevasti (HFSF CTO).
A Center for Dialogue
The summit, supported by Naftemporiki, brought together top international and Greek officials, investors, and executives, establishing the Athens Riviera as a hub for international economic diplomacy. The three-day event reinforced Greece’s ambition to strengthen regional cooperation, strategic investment, and innovation-driven growth.