Greece cast itself as a political and economic bridge between Europe and the Middle East at the 2nd Athens Riviera Summit, held in Athens yesterday morning. Alternate Foreign Minister Haris Theocharis said the government’s “Outward Strategy” aims to deepen cooperation with partners in the area, with the United Arab Emirates singled out as a key counterpart.
“Greece is located on the edge of Europe, but if you include the Middle East, we are right in its center,” Theocharis said, adding that tighter ties can “promote common prosperity.” In a public discussion with H.E. Mohammad Alhawi, Undersecretary at the UAE Ministry of Investment, both sides pointed to new areas for collaboration, including artificial intelligence.
Why the Middle East focus matters now
Theocharis presented Athens as a practical bridge for capital, technology, and energy flows linking the EU with the wider region. Alhawi called Greece “a gateway to Europe”, highlighting the appeal of partnerships that connect Gulf investment with European markets through Athens.
Who participated in the talks?
The session featured Alternate FM Haris Theocharis and H.E. Mohammad Alhawi of the UAE. Representatives from India were also mentioned, though detailed line-ups were not included in the available material.
What will change under the 2026-30 extroversion plan?
Dimitris Skalkos, Secretary General for International Economic Relations and Extroversion, outlined the main elements of the new National Strategy for Extroversion, approved about a month ago. The plan includes:
- A five-year roadmap for 2026-2030, with clear priorities to broaden Greece’s international footprint.
- Turning Enterprise Greece into an integrated service provider and active investor supporting projects across all investment stages.
- A major reform of Export Credit Greece, with two planned subsidiaries: one for short-term credit insurance and one for factoring business receivables.
What changed since last time?
Compared with earlier outreach efforts, the government now links sector priorities, such as AI, with financing and export tools. Exact timelines, budgets, and performance targets were not in the source text and need confirmation from the relevant ministries.
What does this mean for Athens and residents?
For the Athens metro area, the summit’s agenda could lead to new partnerships for local firms, especially in technology, logistics, energy, and services. Stronger links with Gulf investors may support project financing and exports, while changes at Enterprise Greece and Export Credit Greece aim to make procedures easier for businesses based in Attica. Any effect on jobs and wages will depend on concrete deals announced in the coming months.
Where to find more information?
Further details are expected from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the bodies overseeing Enterprise Greece and Export Credit Greece. Organizers had not released a full timetable or participation figures in the material reviewed at the time of publication.
The 2nd Athens Riviera Summit adds to a busy autumn calendar for the city and puts Athens forward as a platform for regional dialogue and investment between Europe and the Middle East.
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