Greek PM to visit Doha from Nov 26

The Greek Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras, is visiting Doha from November 26 to 28, following an official invitation from the Qatari government. Samaras will be accompanied by the minister and the deputy ministers of development, Kostas Hatzidakis and Notis Mitarachi, respectively, the Deputy Minister of Energy, Assimakis Papageorgiou, and the Secretary General for International Economic Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Panagiotis G Mihalos. A group of top executives from 15 of the largest Greek companies are also part of the delegation.The Greek prime minister will have meetings with HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani as well as HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor bin al-Thani. The Greek ministers will meet their counterparts in the Qatari government as well as top officials from Qatar Holding, Qatar Diar and other state entities.Greece is implementing a vast privatisation programme that is expected to attract investment of no less than 15bn euros ($20bn) within the next three years. Equity participations in state firms, such as the State Lottery and the State Natural Gas Co, infrastructure projects (regional ports and airports) as well as dozens of real estate deals are part of the largest privatisation programme currently being implemented. Greece has already achieved major budget targets significantly improving its position in the “Doing Business” report that the World Bank just published. The fiscal adjustment achieved in just over two years is by far more significant than any other industrialised country has ever managed.Qatar Holding recently invested 1.2bn Euros ($1.53bn) in a major gold mining operation in Northern Greece and is currently participating in the tender process of the Hellenikon development project, a 620 hectare area with a 3.5km long seafront, just 8km from the centre of Athens. Greek companies focusing on energy, logistics and infrastructure projects will have numerous meetings with Qatari firms. A joint business council will be established between the Qatar Chamber and the Federation of Greek Enterprises.