Greece: A magnet for foreign investment

Greece is experiencing a real boom in foreign investment. 2024 was a triumphant year, bringing $7.3 billion in foreign direct investment to the country – 41.5% more than the year before.

This figure is only slightly behind the record of 2022 ($8.45 billion), demonstrating the sustained interest of international capital in the Greek economy. But what is behind this impressive growth?

Greece’s success in attracting FDI is due to a combination of factors. Key to this were large-scale deals, such as Masdar’s investment in Terna Energy, a major player in the renewable energy market, and AviAlliance’s acquisition of a stake in Athens Airport. These deals not only brought in significant financial infusions, but also sent a strong signal of confidence in the Greek economy from international investors.

The boom in the real estate market also had a significant impact. Foreigners were actively buying up Greek real estate, especially before the tightening of the conditions of the popular Golden Visa program, which provided a residence permit in exchange for investment. Notably, even after the tightening of requirements, demand for the program remained high, and a decline in interest was recorded only in April 2025, which indicates the long-term potential of this sector.

The numbers speak for themselves. Of the total FDI of $7.3 billion, $1.49 billion came from mergers and acquisitions of Greek companies by foreign capital, demonstrating the activity of international players in consolidating Greek business.

Green investments deserve special attention, reaching $3.41 billion in 2024, reflecting the global trend towards sustainable development and Greece's potential in the field of renewable energy sources.

The outlook for 2025 also looks promising. Already in the first quarter, the inflow of investments amounted to $1.2 billion, confirming the continuation of positive dynamics.

Foreign capital is showing the greatest interest in such sectors as manufacturing, construction and real estate. This is explained by both the developing infrastructure of Greece and the favorable investment climate in these industries.

Analysts agree that Greece is strengthening its position as an attractive destination for international investment. Steady growth in FDI, attractiveness of various economic sectors and successful large deals point to the long-term prospects of the Greek economy to prosper, attracting more foreign investment in the future. Greece’s success is not only the result of favorable economic policies, but also an indicator of the country’s attractiveness as a place to live, work and invest.