Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-09-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Record interest in Greek Road Show in London

[02] Tsipras' meeting with the Pope was a historical one, SYRIZA spokesman says

[03] Major hydroelectric dam in Thessaly to go ahead, PM Samaras announces

[04] Piraeus Bank included in Dow Jones Sustainability Index‏

[01] Record interest in Greek Road Show in London

Mitarachi said that a total of 31 Greek-listed enterprises participate in the Road Show and that meetings with international fund managers were expected to surpass every previous record.

"The basic message we gave as a government is that we are determined to continue the road of reforms so that the sacrifices of the Greek people would allow us to achieve high growth rates in the coming years. The most important, however, is the reduce unemployment which is the biggest problem facing the country right now," Mitarachi told ANA-MPA.

"Economic growth returns to Greece, George Zanias, president of Hellenic Bank Association said during a speech on Thursday, adding that the dynamism of Greek banks has been restored while risks have been significantly reduced for the economy. Zanias stressed that Greek banks will meet the stress tests by the European Central Bank.

Costas Botopoulos, president of the Greek Capital Market Commission, speaking to ANA-MPA said that "this year in London has several particularities. First, there is a strongly increased interest. We are talking about a record of interest, meetings and participation of foreign investors, a very important thing for us. Secondly, it is the time that the Road Show is held. Nowadays, no one questions that Greece is on a very good road, macro-economically speaking". He added that foreign investors acknowledged the growth outlook of the country. "What we discuss is how fast can they come and what is their relation with political developments. Therefore, our job as institutional agency and the companies, is to give them the real picture and to say that in our opinion political developments do not affect indirectly the course of an improving Greek economy".

"Today is the opportunity for foreign investors to come to Greece. When they ask us what is the right moment, the answer is now," Botopoulos said.

Socrates Lazaridis, chief executive of Hellenic Exchanges Group, speaking to ANA-MPA said that the aim of a Road Show is to bring the feeling of the global capital market to Greek businessmen and to offer details and information over investment opportunities in the Greek capital market.

[02] Tsipras' meeting with the Pope was a historical one, SYRIZA spokesman says

He noted that the exit from the memorandum should aim at changing the "context of the memorandum policies."

The appropriate power correlations, which will allow the loosening for the Stability Pact and the fiscal discipline, should be formed in Europe, Skourletis said.

Regarding SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras' meeting with Pope Francis, Skourletis said it was a historical one. He added the meeting was originally scheduled to take place before the Euroelections, but the Vatican postponed it so that it would not be considered as an intervention in the election process.

He also noted that there is common ground between SYRIZA and the Pope, stressing that although "we have different starting points, we share some of the main concerns."

[03] Major hydroelectric dam in Thessaly to go ahead, PM Samaras announces

The work is part of the greater project on the diversion of part of the Acheloos River in Thessaly that has been plagued by delays and interruptions at least since the 80s.

Samaras said that already 283 million euros had been invested in the past for the Messochora dam, and it needs another 110 million euros before it is finished; this funding is already available and will be covered by the Public Power Corporation (PPC).

Referring to the dam's construction history, the premier said it began in 1986 and stopped in 2001 because of court actions, that it needs two years of work to be completed, and that every year it is delayed it costs PPC 25 million euros. Losses to PPC by the delays exceed 300 million euros at present, he added.

The dam will produce 360 gigawatts per year using Acheloos' water, which it returns to its natural basin in the process. This production corresponds to 10% of all energy produced in Greece by hydroelectric plants, Samaras noted.

"To give you a sense of the value of production, this project could cover the entire energy consumption of an island like Corfu, or Peristeri in Attica or the annual consumption of Lesvos and Chios islands together. This is the first of a series of growth interventions beginning throughout Greece," he stressed.

"Greece is leaving the past behind," Samaras said. "We are investing in a better future with growth and job opportunities. In 2014 Greece entered a trajectory of growth for the first time after six years. We all feel very optimistic after today's (Thursday's) announcements by the Hellenic Statistical Service (ELSTAT) that notes a drop in unemployment, a more significant drop in the second half of 2014 at last, and, more significantly, a drop in youth unemployment."

"We still have a lot to do, however," he continued. "With the sacrifices of the Greek people, Greece is returning to normalcy month by month. I do believe that all of us together we can succeed."

[04] Piraeus Bank included in Dow Jones Sustainability Index‏

A bank announcement said that these indices were among the most acclaimed sustainability indices monitoring the financial performance of leading companies, operating on corporate sustainability terms.

Piraeus Bank is the only Greek company to be listed in the index, which includes 10 pct of the best companies from a list of 800 largest enterprises in developing markets.

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