Investors express optimism on Greece’s prospects

Foreign investors with interests in Greece expressed optimism on Friday to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras regarding the Greek economy’s potential and prospects, as well as concern that if the country fails to fulfill its obligations to the eurozone it may face a dead end.

In the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Yiannis Dragasakis and Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, Tsipras led a meeting with Prem Watsa (Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd), John Paulson (Paulson & Co), Stephen Johnson (W.L. Ross & Co), Jon Haick (Brookfield Capital Partners Ltd), Samir Parekh (Capital Research & Management Company), Ben Watsa (Lissom Investment), Lawrence Chin (Mackenzie Cundill), Jamie Lowry (Schroder’s Investment Management), Daniel Pozen (Wellington Management Company) as well as Nikolaos Karamouzis and Fokion Karavias from Eurobank.

Fairfax chief executive Watsa said after the meeting that “we expressed our optimism for the long-term role of Greece within the eurozone and we reconfirmed our support for the prospects of the country. Fairfax sees significant investment opportunities in Greece, provided there is continued implementation of the necessary structural reforms in an environment of social and economic stability.”

Tsipras reportedly assured investors of the government’s determination to proceed with the necessary reforms, with privatizations and the creation of an attractive environment for investments. He also told them that the bailout review will be completed by end-March.

Sources told that the investors stressed to the prime minister that the completion of the review will have a major impact on the economy, therefore time is a crucial parameter, as the earlier it is completed, the faster the economy will recover, they said.