German businesses are planning important investments in Greece, such as the creation of a logistics center in Alexandroupolis and investments in tourism. These investments could create up to 50,000 new jobs, especially for younger Greeks, Germany’s Deputy Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development, Hans-Joachim Fuchtel, said on Wednesday.
During a meeting with the head of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Konstadinos Michalos, Fuchtel said that local chambers will play an important role in the cooperation between Greek and German businesses on a local level, because they know best about the possibilities and opportunities in their region.
He also noted the importance of internship programs implemented by the chambers.
Greece is a promising landscape for investment and jobs creations for young Greeks who can work full time for 500-580 euro gross. Even though the International Monetary Fund and the country’s European lenders still think Greece is not competitive enough.
Fuchtel visited the Athens Chamber of Commerce together with 40 German businessmen.
Hans-Joachim Fuchtel was appointed Special Envoy for Greece by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2011. He was assigned to promote Greek-German cooperation between municipalities throught the German-Greek Assembly.
I have no idea what Fuchtel effectively achieved in the five- six years of his role as Special Envoy.
For a year or so, he was wandering around across Greece, from municipality to municipality and from picturesque village to sand shores, enjoying grilled octopus and moussaka, a Greek wine or two and other local delicacies.
With the fresh air of bottomless German arrogance, Fuchtel once insulted Greek municipality workers claiming that “3,000 Greek workers do the work of 1,000 Germans.” The reaction to big mouth Futchel was heavy clashes between municipality workers and riots police in Thessaloniki as workers’ attacks at the German delegation including the German Consul in the city.
In the following time, Fuchtel avoided appearance in the media like the devil avoids holy incense.
Maybe he spent more time in Germany than in Greece, although I was hearing from time to time of a statement here and a statement there.
At some point, he appeared in the media again with the aim to boost Greek tourism in Germany.
“Greece is an impressive vacations country,” Fuchtel said, grabbed the hands of the Greek Tourism minister Olga Kefaloyianni (ND) and pulled her close to his body. He looked as if he was about to lose himself in the eyes of the attractive minister – in front of the cameras.
Maybe Chancellor Merkel limited his budget for flying tickets… I don’t know. I thought, he was even deprived from his role as Special Envoy.
But this sort of German never dies out.
PS I still miss some review on the deed and the success of Fuchtel as Germany’s Special Envoy in Greece.
