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ECONOMY
-In 2023, fees earned Greek banks €1.8 billion, Kathimerini reported. About three-fifths of local banks’ commissions come from loan issues, payments and card transactions, which increased by 17.5% in the last two years. In the first quarter of 2024 the four systemic banks’ (Alpha Bank, Eurobank, National Bank, and Piraeus Bank) fee income amounted to €477 million.
-Savings in Greece have collapsed since 2002, shortly after switching from the drachma to the euro but the worst period was between 2018-2022, a Eurobank study called “Savings in Greece – Why We Don’t Save” reveals. The average annual savings is €1,076. Households with two adults and children are 2,159 euros in the hole, showing negative savings. The average annual savings of pensioners was 2,248 euros. Workers said they had 410 euros in reserve, while the self-employed had 63 euros set aside.
-In January – April 2024, State Budget net revenues stood at 22,538 million euros, showing an increase of 2,340 million euros or 11.6% against the target of the corresponding period, according to data published by the Ministry of Finance.
BUSINESS
-The Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday with ETVA VIPE SA Industrial Sites, to promote issues of Greek entrepreneurship in Greece and abroad. ETVA VIPE SA is the full successor of the company “Hellenic Bank for Industrial Development SA” in terms of the rights and obligations relating to industrial sites. It currently operates and manages a total of 27 Industrial Areas (renamed “Business Parks”).
-Greek group Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE), part of Deutsche Telekom, signed an agreement in principle to sell its Romania mobile operation to an investment company majority owned by Digi Communications. Digi is the largest fixed-line company in Romania. Telekom Romania Mobile is the last remaining asset of the OTE that took over the Balkan country’s telecom group Romtelecom in a process initiated back in 1998. Rumours on OTE’s final exit from Romania have been circulating for some time, with its stake in the fixed side of Telekom Romania offloaded to Orange in September 2021.
REAL ESTATE
The Total Building Activity (private-public) in Greece, in February 2024 which is calculated on the basis of the number of issued building permits, amounted to 2,744. This figure corresponds to 627,270 m2 of surface and 2,581,030 m3of volume, reflecting, respectively, a 77.8% increase in the number of building permits, a 70.2% increase in surface and a 72.0% increase in volume, compared with the corresponding month of 2023, ELSTAT data showed.
CULTURE
Visitors to Delphi on Wednesday (May 29) will not be able to enter the site after 17:00 on Wednesday, due to a fire and visitor evacuation drill starting at 18:00, the Ministry of Culture said. The Museum of Delphi will be open as usual, however, until 20:00. A place with a rich intangible heritage, Delphi was the centre of the world (omphalos) in the eyes of the ancient Greeks.
TOURISM
-Greek airports saw a 12.2% passenger traffic increase in the first four months of 2024, data from the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) showed. During the period under review a 6.4% rise in aircraft movements was also recorded.
-Greek authorities have initiated the first drone inspections in the peninsula of Halkidiki, a popular holiday destination in northern Greece, in efforts to identify potential violations linked to beach and seashore concessions, To Vima reported.
-Wego, the number 1 travel app for flight search and booking in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, has announced a new partnership with the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO), aiming to showcase the best of Greece during the vibrant summer season. This collaboration invites travelers to immerse themselves in Greece’s breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and exquisite cuisine, promising an unforgettable Mediterranean adventure.
