Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-05-22

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis addresses SETE tourist association

[02] FinMin meets World Bank chief

[01] PM Karamanlis addresses SETE tourist association

"Our strategy is steadfast and non-negotiable. It is the strategy of changes and of reforms, far from doctrines and rigidness. It is a strategy that places the social result first. A creative and progressive strategy. And this strategy will not be abandoned, obstructed or suspended," he said.

Karamanlis referred to the importance of tourism for the Greek economy and said that it is common knowledge that tourism constitutes something more than an important economic activity in the country.

Appealing to professionals in the sector, the prime minister called on them to restrain prices, speaking of the need for tangible support for internal tourism.

"In restraining prices, the Greeks are enabled to 'choose Greece' in time all the year round. In restraining prices, the economy stands to gain, as well as Greek society in its entirety. All of us together can turn the international challenge into a national opportunity. All of us, everyone from the position he is in, must prove, in practice, substantive social responsibility," he said.

Karamanlis further said that the international conjuncture "is not favourable" for Greek tourism, as a result of the fiscal crisis in the United States and inflationary pressures in Europe.

The prime minister revealed that about 880 million euros have been earmarked so far to support businesses in the tourist sector and about 6,000 tourist businesses have benefitted.

He also said that "at the same time, structures and modern infrastructures are being promoted which serve common goals," while adding that a modernisation plan for a number of airports is being prepared and the designing of tourist ports is also proceeding in parallel.

SETE President Nikos Angelopoulos proposed the coordination of action of ministries jointly responsible for tourism by the prime minister in the framework of economic and tourist development planning, stressing that this option is necessary since the increase in GDP, employment and regional development depend on tourism to a great extent, as well as for curbing the gap between

[02] FinMin meets World Bank chief

The Greek demand was made during a meeting with World Bankās president Robert Zoellick in the US capital, in the framework of the Greek ministerās visit to the United States.

?There are countries in our region, rapidly growing, which will need the support of World Bank for several years to improve their infrastructure and the level of their economic growth,? Alogoskoufis told reporters after his meeting with Mr Zoellick.

The Greek minister stressed that Greece was at the disposal of World Bank in its effort to offer help to Africa, in the Middle East and Asia, while he stressed that the Bank acknowledged Greeceās role in the wider region

More analytically, Alogoskoufis said that Greece has pledged to raise its development growth, in an effort to help developing countries overcoming poverty and deal with problems such as healthcare, epidemics, clean water and other.

The two men also discussed developments in world market, particularly higher food prices that hit the developing world.

The Greek minister also met with State Deputy Secretary John Negreponte.

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