The takeaways from the 1st Athens Riviera Summit
- 21/06/2024
During a three-day event that shed light on key issues and sparked thoughtful discussions, shaping the agenda for the political, business, and social landscape of tomorrow, the Athens Riviera Summit came to a close on the afternoon of Thursday 20/06 at the luxurious Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel in Vouliagmeni.
Simultaneously, the conference stage witnessed important announcements and references, including the Minister of Environment and Energy, Theodoros Skylakakis, unveiling the groundbreaking acquisition deal of Terna Energy by Masdar for 3.2 billion euros.
Additionally, as part of the Summit, our country’s Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, and the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy of Cyprus, Nikodimos Diamianos, delved into the extensive details of the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the two nations. This memorandum aims to implement an action plan that will significantly enhance the functioning of their public services. The Memorandum of Cooperation focuses on the exchange of best practices and experiences, as well as the provision of technical expertise to develop applications and electronic services that better serve the needs of the citizens.
Meanwhile, Antigone Lyberopoulou, the managing director of the Hellenic Development Investment Bank, revealed the agreement for funding three Greek funds in which the Bank has made investments.
Bridging National Economy and Global Connectivity
Centered around the Athens Riviera, its integration with the national economy, and its global impact, the conference explored specific thematic axes linking the local essence of the Athens Riviera to the national economy and the international arena within the realm of international economic collaboration. The current and future prospects of the Athens Riviera took the spotlight. A notable announcement during the Summit involved the resolution of the dispute between the state and entrepreneur Pantelis Mantovanakis, the proprietor of the Lagonissi Grand Resort.
The imminent resolution of this dispute is poised to catalyze the development of this particular region, as highlighted by Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis at the Athens Riviera Summit. The longstanding legal conflict between entrepreneur Pantelis Mantovanakis and the government will be settled through a conciliation process, as disclosed by Mr. Georgiadis to NouPou.
Συν τοις άλλοις, στη διάρκεια του Summit έγινε γνωστή από τον διευθύνοντα σύμβουλο της METKA, του ομίλου Metlen (πρώην Mytilineos), η υπογραφή της συμφωνίας με τη Lamda Development για την κατασκευή του εμπορικού κέντρου Riviera Galleria στο παραλιακό μέτωπο της Ποσειδώνος.
From his perspective, Fotis Giotzios, the head of Ten Brinke, known for a range of residential and commercial developments in the southern suburbs, announced planned total investments of 380 million euros within the next three years.
The Role of Municipalities in the New Era of the Riviera
In discussions focusing on the participation of municipalities in the emerging landscape of the Athens Riviera, initiatives and projects led by mayors Grigoris Konstantellou of Elliniko-Argyroupoli, Yiannis Konstantatos of Lavreotiki, Dimitris Loukas of P. Faliro, and Yiannis Fostieropoulos were highlighted for their efforts to improve the daily lives of citizens.
Among the topics explored were investment opportunities from the United States in Greece and the future of cooperation between the two countries in the wider context of Southeastern Europe. The keynote speaker was the United States Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey Pyatt. Discussions delved into the future of tourism under the theme “Reinventing the Athens Riviera as a hub for high-value infrastructure in the hospitality and hotel sector.”
The tourism sector is characterized by rapid growth, supported by significant public and private investments along the entire coastal front. Leading these investments is the Asteras Vouliagmenis project, followed by the Hellinikon development, Grivalia’s investments in Asteria Glyfadas, the Glamping project in Voula known as “91 Athens Riviera” on 1st Voula Beach, as well as substantial investments by TEMES, Prokopios, Intracom in 2nd Voula Beach, and the luxury residential complex, Apollo Hills, developed by Henderson Park and Hines.
In the “International Economic Cooperation: Deepening Convergences” section, institutional and corporate stakeholders highlighted initiatives and action plans to enhance cooperation for optimal utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) opportunities. The discussions emphasized energy cooperation and the formation of alliances to elevate Greece’s role as an energy hub in Southeastern Europe. The session also showcased the multiplier benefits of strategic external relations, policy alignment, and economic diplomacy, as well as the reinforcement and expansion of economic ties between international and domestic business players, which were central to the summit’s agenda.
The discussions explored the impact of technology and artificial intelligence and how these two components are radically transforming the landscape in the investment sector and affecting all kinds of economic, business, and other activities.
Prominent ministers and speakers from Greece and abroad
The Forum featured government ministers including Minister of State Makis Voridis, Minister of Environment Theodore Skilakakis, Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou, and Deputy Minister of Economy Nikos Papathanasis.
The attendees included top executives from leading business groups in the hospitality, construction, and real estate sectors, as well as heads of major investment entities from Greece and abroad. Among the foreign speakers were the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates for Energy and Sustainability, H.E. Abdulla Balalaa, the Deputy Minister of Investment Development at the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA), Fahad Mansour Al-Hashem, and Dorothy Swann McAuliffe, Special Representative for Global Partnerships at the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships.
The Athens Riviera Summit was held under the auspices of the Ministries of National Economy and Finance, Foreign Affairs, Development, Environment and Energy, Infrastructure and Transport, Tourism, Digital Governance, Interior, Shipping and Island Policy, as well as the Attica Region and the Region of Attica.