One day before visiting Paris to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke to French daily Figaro and invited investors to Greece.
A thorough bill for taxation reduction for businesses will be presented in September, Mitsotakis told Figaro said adding that “income tax for businesses will be reduced to 24% from 28% currently for the incomes of 2019.”
In the same token, he said that “business tax will be reduced to 20% as of 2021.”
Mitsotakis will be visiting Paris on Thursday to promote investments in Greece and gain support for a new agreement with Greece’s creditors that could lead to lower the primary surplus targets as of 2021.
He will focus on promoting the Greek economy’s positive indicators including state bond yields, the rising trend in the Athens Stock Exchange, and the general improvement of the economic climate.
Citing sources from the Prime Minister’s office, state news agency amna reports that French investment interest is focused on energy, networks, construction and tourism.
The sources added that the PM’s tour in Paris and other capitals this month will discuss the reduction of the 3.5 pct primary surplus target starting from 2021, an effort the government is committed to, in order to allow fiscal space for reductions in taxes and social insurance contributions.
The government has also pledged to meet the target for 2020, but emphasis will also be placed on development. Part of the reforms the government will undertake is their fast-track adoption, removing obstacles from investing and freeing the economy from excessive bureaucracy.
Wit Macron, Mitsotakis will also discuss Greek-French security and defense issues, given the fact that Greece’s borders are also the borders of the EU, therefore its voice on EU migration policy and border control should be heard. Greece is also the only country in the area that is a NATO and EU member and a stable point of reference in a volatile region.
In addition, the region provides investment opportunities in energy, as the presence of global energy companies in the East Mediterranean and south of Crete indicate, the sources stressed.
Climate change is another sector for Greek-French collaboration, government sources said, along with renewables, recycling and waste processing.
Overall, government sources added, the prime minister’s message at all meetings with European leaders will be one of Greece turning the page on its past crisis and moving ahead with reforms under a government with wide popular support. Greece can become a stable point of reference, development and realism at a time of great upheavals and provide support to a democratic Europe, they said.
PM Mitsotakis is scheduled to arrive at Elysee Palace and meet with President Macron 45 minutes later.
