Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis gave an interview for the Ekonomeast Magazine , during his two-day visit to the Serb capital, that was released on April 7th, 2011 underlining the need for the widening of economic cooperation between Greece and Serbia.

The deputy Foreign minister said that the Greek businessmen are interested in investing in Serbia in the sectors of energy, and in renewable sources in particular, infrastructures, production and tourism.

"We desire to strengthen economic cooperation, we are encouraging the investments of Greek businessmen in Serbia, but the investments must also move in the opposite direction, so that both sides will equally benefit," Kouvelis said.

Greece's Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis said in Belgrade that Greek companies are interested in investing in Serbia's energy sector, primarily renewable energy sources, infrastructure, production and tourism.

Kouvelis reminded that Greece is the second biggest investor in Serbia, mostly in the banking and telecommunications sectors, and it intends to extend its investments into other sectors.

According to him, Greece has invested EUR 2.6 billion in Serbia so far, and over 250 Greek companies employ over 25,000 people.

The deputy minister assessed that the ties between Serbia and Greece are strong, but that the trade of only EUR 324 million last year is not encouraging and should be improved.

Talking about the Hellenic Plan, through which the Athens government intends to invest EUR 100 million in Serbia, specifically in the south leg of Corridor 10, Kouvelis said that the projects are going ahead as planned despite the economic crisis in Greece.

Through infrastructure projects, Greece wants to support Serbia's chances of EU integration, something the government in Athens cares a lot about, Kouvelis added.

Kouvelis visited also the Nebojsa Tower, where Greek revolutionary and poet Rigas Feraios was killed, and which was restored thanks to a donation from Greece, which financed 70 percent of the project.

Through this one and a half year of work that our government has done in the greek economy, the economy is starting to pick up.

We believe that now we have been out of the most difficult part and that this was shown in the recent Summit Meeting of the European Union.

Greece was the one country out of those that are in difficulty that took full marks for the implementation of the Stability Program, and that also lead to the extension of the period for the implementation of the Stability Program.

That is something that is very important to note that is against the attacks that Greece is getting from the markets and from some of the rating agencies, because Greece has actually managed to turn around its economy in a very short time and to implement a program of very important - radical changes I would say- in taxation, in labor policy, in also being more attractive for investments.

Now, the good news that I want to bring is that a) Greece and its companies are very strong and will be willing to remain in a strong position especially in the Balkan region and of course in Serbia where we have a strong presence already, and b) that now we are looking into a period where collaborations for the economy can be looking towards a very positive future, so I think that then, on specific items that we will want to discuss we will also try to pin down, to pinpoint specific opportunities on which we can work together.