Positive macroeconomic environment
The study also analyzes Greece's performance in terms of real GDP, inflation, foreign direct investment, fixed capital formation, and the utilization of Recovery and Resilience Facility funds, based on data from Oxford Economics, Bloomberg, Eurostat, and the OECD. The study finds that, despite the delayed economic restart following the financial crisis, Greece's performance in key indicators surpasses both the EU and most OECD member countries.
Specifically, the Greek economy proved to be more resilient to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, recording consistently higher growth rates from 2021 onwards. Foreign direct investment as a percentage of GDP, after a significant decline during the crisis, has been steadily increasing since 2016, while fixed capital formation has also been growing at a faster pace than both the EU and the OECD since 2020.
Strong organic growth and Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) opportunities
In this environment, the internationalization of the Greek economy, the business transformation, the modernization of corporate governance, and the optimization of processes leading to economies of scale and cost efficiency, as well as the introduction of innovative products and services, are strongly contributing to the organic growth of businesses.
Significant opportunities for mergers and acquisitions have also emerged, reflected in the compound growth rate in M&A activity by 7% over the past five years, with a focus on energy, financial services, consumer goods, industrials, and transportation.
Finally, the role of the public sector is also pivotal, through strategic investments in critical infrastructure, comprehensive digitalization initiatives, and streamlining bureaucratic procedures
Seven case studies that demonstrate how businesses in Greece can create value are also featured in the study. These case studies involve strategic initiatives in transportation and logistics, energy, food and beverage, health and life sciences, banking, hospitality, and real estate. Specifically, the study analyzes how these companies utilized the five value creation drivers, the actions and initiatives they developed, and the economic and long-term value they generated.
Summary
After a decade of low growth rates, and despite the obstacles posed by external challenges such as geopolitical instability and the energy crisis, significant value creation is currently taking place in Greece. The five pillars analyzed in the study can serve as drivers of value creation, while seven case studies illustrate how these drivers can be leveraged to generate long-term economic value.
