The Hellenic Banking Association (HBA) has planned a series of meetings, on the domestic and international level, while also co-sponsoring events with the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) and Greece Tourism Confederation (SETE) with guest-speakers of high international acclaim, influence and experience, aimed at upgrading the investment and economic outlook of the country and presenting the preconditions for turning Greece into an attractive investment destination.

In pursuit of these goals, on Thursday, November 9, a working lunch was held at the HBA offices with the President of BNP Paribas, Mr. Jean Lemierre, his associates, and representatives of Greek banks’ senior management.

Mr. Lemierre, having a profound knowledge of the European economy, as well as of the European banking and financial system, due to his successful tenure in important positions (including the presidency of the EBRD), engaged in discussions with Greek banks’ representatives on the outlook of the economy and European institutional dynamics as regards the banking industry.

In the evening of the same day, at a dinner hosted by the HBA in cooperation with SEV and SETE, with the participation of guests from institutional bodies of the country, as well as 100 representatives of the Greek business community, Mr. Lemierre, as the keynote speaker, presented both the challenges and prospects of the European economy and highlighted the investment opportunities that can be found now in Greece, after a long period of recession and structural reforms, and discussed with the audience.

At the end of the event, the President of HBA Mr. Nikolaos Karamouzis welcomed the interest shown to date by distinguished guests of international standing to visit the country, to exchange their views with representatives of the Greek productive fabric and to contribute with their knowledge and key ideas to the new landscape that must be created in the country the soonest possible, in the direction of restoring viable growth.  For this reason, the relevant initiatives of HBA will be intensified by organizing further such events, initiatives and meetings.