Where is the Big Foreign Spender to invest in Greece and change the pessimistic and negative atmosphere? Where is the One who will let capital flow in the debt-ridden country and restore the image of bureaucratic and entrepreneurship-hindering Greece? Where is the foreign Goldfinger who will turn Greece into a trust-worthy country with one single touch? Government officials allegedly put their hopes into the hands and money of such rich and risky investor, while at the same time they admit, boosting growth and remove obstacles is a difficult, if not impossible task. Speaking under conditions of anonymity, of course.
Additional Measures Trigger 1.5%-2.5% Recession
The recession is deepening at estimated levels close to 7% in 2012 because of delays in growth measures, political instability and the international environment, according to reports from the Troika and the government. From 2013 onwards, it is estimated that the austerity package of 11.5 billion euro will bring additional recession decline by about 1.5% to 2.5% per year, postponing the economic recovery for 2014 – so the most optimist scenario.
According to government officials, keys for markets and enterprises is that money from EU Structural Funds will be rapidly released in addition to moves that will change the atmosphere.
“The entrance of a big foreign investor can change the behavior of markets and help the country,” government officials report.
However, at present, everything is “under construction” so to say…
“According to information, predictions about recession speak of close to -7% for 2012. EU Commission estimations are in slightly lower levels, while the IMF is reportedly a little more pessimistic. Last spring recession was been estimated at -4.8%.
From 2013 onwards, the 11-billion euro spendining cuts package is expected to affect the recession by 1.5% to 2.5% annualy. So instead of ‘zero growth’ (estimation of last March) they now speak of more than -2%.
The recovery will come in 2014 according to the most optimistic scenario, which according to reports is been prepared by the European Commission. The IMF seems to be more pessimistic, “seeing” and negative growth also in 2014.
Interestingly, according to reports, the Troika incorporates in some scenarios, the extension of the implementation of Memorandum of Understanding for four years. In such case, the recovery will be faster but much smaller.
Without MoU extension, the Greek economy will suffer form recession for more years.
The government officials told Capital.gr that the key role hides in the economic atmosphere. IF it changes to the better and investors come, the grim estimations will remain on the papers.
However this is not easy at all. Then apart from the fears about the country’s economy, dozens of other obstacles around the Ministry of Development have to be overcome: prices, entrepreneurship, investment laws, EU Funds realisation. However Development Minister Kostis Chatzidakis recently made it clear that such a task is very difficult,” government officials said under conditions of anonymity.”
Beginning of month, Minister Hatzidakis revealed the government plan, a Ten-Points Reform Program for money making through privatization and investment. Did he say “It’s a difficult task”? I think, I missed that specific point. Or it’s the usual underminers inside the government.
Urgent Advise: Until the Big Spender invests in this Cabaret-country, close the doors and throw the key away.
BTW: How this big economic miracle of -10% recession in 2013 will mutate into growth and development with an unprecedented high jump in 2014 is something only Olympic Games trainers can scientifically explain.
I would not at all surprised if the investors came from China. They will wait for ‘their’ moment to step in and rebuild this country to become the ideal gateway into Europe. No industry, just logistics and distribution as well as trade…..
I think in this direction too. But rebuild the country? With Chinese dragons, mafia, eating pets and so on?
the Chinese don’t invest, they take over. they already have an enormous interest in the container harbour in Piraeus. Last week there were reports of Chinese taking an “interest” in Greek shipping. 1 and 1 does add up here. How do they do it? Here’s what they did in the USA.
The China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) set up a subsidiary called China Construction America (CCA). This subsidiary has over 2$billion to spend on PPP (Public-Private Patnership) projects, meaning, in conjunction with the US government, they invest in US infrastructure, and own a share in it. The key issue is money, and that the Chinese have plenty of. either in hard cash, or trade surplus. And despite a bureaucratic system that makes Greece look like it’s perfectly organized, they somehow manage to make major decisions in a very short time.
but jobs, no, not too many.
Like many other countries, Greece has a golden opportunity to rethink its intellectual infrastructure and how it approaches employment, industry, etc. And plenty of bright, young, educated people to make it work. All they need is a chance to have a go at it. But that means that the likes of Samaras, Venizelos and others must step out of the way. they have proven that they have neither the ability, the desire, or the interest of Greece and its people at heart.
“ten points”? Sure. Now is the time! Let’s go! Start a comission, one year from now, the head resigns, in two years, they make proposals, proposals are discussed by political parties comitees, then by the government, then by the parties, then by the government. A bill, at last, goes to parliament. Back to the government. Paper, paper, paper. Back to parliament. 2015. Elections. Comission, etc. hundred pages of legislation. Now, what will we do? We have to make this happen? Never done it, before. We invented democracy, europe, the internet, everything, this is Merkel fault, for sure. Let’s have lunch. Perhaps we’ll meet a nice drunken russian guy at the restaurant who wants to invest loads of money in a huge beach resort with a marina, something like that.
Investors work like this dude who wanted to buy an Ionian Island, invest 100 million to “create” 300 jobs as an excuse to make a lot of more money. This people are crazy and belong into madhouse just for their greed.
And we belong in the madhouse for letting them get away with it. So the whole world is indeed an open air asylum, run by the inmates…