Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Discusses Economic Recovery and AI Challenges
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited San Francisco to promote the country as a business destination, highlighting Greece’s economic progress. He emphasized that Greece is paying down its debt at record pace and now borrows more cheaply than the U.S., with Greek 10-year bond yields around 4.3% compared to roughly 5% for Treasuries—a significant shift from the crisis years when yields topped 40%. Mitsotakis also outlined investments in digital infrastructure, including a new AI-powered supercomputer and streamlined government services. Mitsotakis discussed policy changes aimed at attracting tech companies, such as revised stock option taxation and relaxed labor laws. He acknowledged challenges with visa processing but noted improvements in Greek universities that are now fostering startups instead of radical leftist ideologies. The prime minister also expressed concerns about AI's societal impact, admitting Greece lacks a comprehensive strategy for managing the risks posed by technologies like addictive chatbots. Despite these uncertainties, Mitsotakis remains optimistic about attracting tech talent and investment to Greece as it regains developed market status from MSCI next year.
Topics: AI policy Economic development Government relations with tech industry Greece