Country Profile

Greece is situated in the southern europe and on the southern end of the balkan peninsula. On its north frontier it borders with albania, bulgaria and yugoslav republic of macedonia and on its eastern side it is bordered with turkey. The aegean sea surrounds both eastern and western side of greece whereas ionian sea lies on its west front. Athens is the capital and the largest city of greece. The country has total 131,940 sq km area which is divided into130,800 sq km land area and 1,140 sq km area water area. With a less population of 10,722,816, the country has witnessed high literacy rate in both male and female categories. Greece is an entrusted member of 'European Union' since 1981, Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union since 2001, NATO since 1952, OECD since 1961, WEU since 1995 and ESA since 2005. Greece economy is characterized as capitalist with the 40% contribution of public sector. The GDP has been recorded at $326.4 billion with a 3.7% GDP real growth rate. Greece enjoys good export relations with Bulgaria, Cyprus, turkey, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, America and Britain. It exports manufactured goods, petroleum products, food and beverages, textiles and chemicals.

Snapshot

Economic Overview

• Greece has capitalist economy. With a more sharing comes from public sector that accounts to half of GDP.
• The country is recognized as a major producer and consumer of lamb, beef and pork.
• The country is known as the major importer of seabass and bream fry.
• Greece holds rank in the list of world's top 20 most famous tourist place. Every year it becomes destination to a large number of tourists which becomes more than its population.
• Greece supplies around 12.5 billion dollars of manufactured goods, food & beverages and fuel in throughout the world.
• The nation has recorded high importations (near to 28 billion) of goods from Netherlands, Italy. Germany, France Britain etc

International Trade
Major Export Items
Manufactured Goods, Petroleum Products, Chemicals, Textiles, Food & Beverages

Main Destinations of Exports
Spain, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Turkey, France, USA, UK

Major Import Items
Fuels, Chemicals, Transport Equipment, Machinery

Main Origins of Imports
Russia, Germany, South Korea, Italy, France, Netherlands

Contacts of Trade Ministries/ Associations

Business Visa Rules

• The business visa is issued for maximum 90 days.
• The applicant is required to present valid passport and one passport size photograph.
• The applicant must be a citizen of nation other than that of Greece and he should be on business trip for a specified time period.
• Except some incidental cost like accommodation, food etc. no other compensation should received by business visitor from Greece. He needs to bear all cost by himself or by his sponsor.
• Business visitor is required to present proof of his financial stability like bank statement, credit card etc.. It is needed to make sure that visitor can bear all cost which will arise during his stay in Greece.
• If it is a sponsored visit then the invitation or letter of the company or organization is needed which will detail why the applicant is required to visit Greece and mention his job position in employment.
• The applicant must have authentic and realistic purpose of visiting & staying in Greece.
• The total stay period covered in business visit should be consistent with the desiring aim of the trip.
• The validity of visa changes in different cases and its cost depends on nationality of applicant.

Business Hours
Offices:   Monday to Friday from 09.00 - 17:00
Banks:    Monday to Thursday from 08.30 - 14:00
                 Friday from 08.30 - 13:30

Public Holidays