09/05/2014 04:47 AST
Trade and investment between the Arab world and Greece have been growing every year, said Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC).
“This has been particularly the case between Greece and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the GCC, whose businessmen have been scouring the Greek landscape for opportunities in which to invest,” he told a major conference in Athens.
Prince Alwaleed attended the Second Greek EU Presidency Conference “Europe and the Arab World: Strengthening Political, Business and Investment Ties” in Athens, as a keynote speaker during His Royal Highness’s visit to Greece.
Prince Alwaleed’s keynote speech was on a topic related to the “Strengthening of European — Arab Relations”.
The conference was held under the auspices of the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the League of Arab States in Athens and took place at the Athenaeum Intercontinental Hotel Athens.
The event was attended by high level officials and representatives from the European Union and the Arab world who also took part in the open, meaningful and constructive dialogue that included Evangelos Venizelos, Greek deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Abdelilah Benkirane, prime minister of Morocco, Nabil Elaraby, secretary general, League of Arab States, Nectaria Passarivakis, president and CEO, The Economist Events for Greece, Cyprus and Malta, head of the EU Balkan Series; in addition to local, regional and international media.
In his speech, Prince Alwaleed added: “I, for one, have been closely eying the Greek tourism sector, as I believe that it will continue to grow. I spent some time last summer in Greece investigating the hotel industry, and upon my return to Saudi Arabia have urged a number of my Saudi compatriots to examine closely the Greek real estate and tourism sectors. I am delighted that this has borne fruit, particularly with the recent Saudi-led acquisition of the iconic Astir Palace Hotel.”
He also said: “Our Four Seasons executives are already engaged in serious discussions with a view to managing the two Astir Palace hotels.”
Prince Alwaleed said: “I have been pointing out to my Saudi business friends, there are so many potentially rewarding Greek sectors in which to invest, particularly when one takes into account the fact that, given its strategic location, Greece affords a gateway, an entry point, for Saudi companies to gain access to the markets of countries in southeastern and central Europe.”
During Prince Alwaleed’s visit to Greece, he also met with Prime Minister Samaras of Greece and representatives of the Greek government in Athens.
During their meeting, Prince Alwaleed and Samaras discussed the warm friendship between Saudi Arabia and Greece and referred to a number of economic and social issues.
Prince Alwaleed said: “The Arabs have been perennially thankful for the position that Greece has always taken in regard to Palestinian rights. Given their knowledge of the history of the Mediterranean basin, consecutive Greek governments have refused to succumb to external pressures and have continued to adhere to their principled stance. Furthermore, and in a wider context, Greece has been in the forefront of advocacy for a closer relationship between the EU and the Arab world. Similarly, the Arab countries have never accepted the partition of Cyprus and have refused to recognize the independence of its northern Turkish enclave.”
Arab News
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