Dimitris Skalkos offers a Glimpse into the Next Day of Greek F&B exports

As 2025 has already begun, Greek food & beverage products have a bright opportunity to shine –once again– in international markets. The Greek Secretary General for International Economic Affairs and Chairman of Enterprise Greece, Dimitris Skalkos, speaks to Ambrosia Magazine about the strategies being implemented to strengthen Greek F&B exports worldwide, the potential challenges ahead and the key initiatives taken for further extroversion.

Interview: Kyriaki Moustakidou

What are the comparative advantages of Greek F&B products? In which international markets do they currently lead and where do you see further growth potential?

It is widely accepted that Greek F&B products represent the essence of Mediterranean cuisine which has managed to attain high levels of popularity across the world. The diverse Greek agro-ecosystem offers a wide variety of quality products which are unique in taste and reach the market having undergone only that amount of processing which is sufficient for their quality. The Western Balkans and Cyprus are key export destinations and will continue to be important markets for Greece. We also see great potential in many other markets such as the USA, Canada, the UK and the Middle East and the Gulf region where we have observed rising demand for Greek food products.

You have set the goal for the 2025 Internationalization Strategic and Business Plan to reach 100% of the initial actions planned. To what extent does this goal apply to F&B sector and how quickly could the sector adapt to it?

In a context of multiple global economic challenges and opportunities, the National Strategic Plan for Extroversion emerges as an important tool for targeted support of the extroversion of Greek businesses, for the attraction of investments and for the overall promotion of the international position and image of our country.  We must understand that the Plan is a cumulative endeavour, spearheaded by the MFA, but involving many different Ministries, agencies and of course the private sector. I am happy to say that a large number of entries in the overall Plan (about one hundred taken cumulatively, both bilateral and multilateral) concern the promotion of Food and Beverage products. These outlined projects fall under different modalities of international cooperation such as participation in exhibitions and food shows, hosted buyer meetings, promotional seminars, cooking events and others. It goes without saying that our overall commitment is extended to the important sector of Food and Beverage.

Each year, Greek food exports to foreign countries have a 10% increase. What are the obstacles that must be overcome for this growth trend to continue, and what strategies are you implementing to strengthen it?

 Climate change is the number one challenge for Greek food exports. Furthermore, a shortage of workforce in the agricultural sector causes grave concern. This urges the government and the farmers to work together in modernizing the farming methods used, with the introduction of agri-tech innovation. The recession in key European markets is another great concern, however we are encouraging Greek exporters to be proactive and diversify their target markets towards the US, the Middle East and the Far East by participating in more trade fairs with the support of Enterprise Greece. Finally, the ongoing war in Ukraine, the uncertainty in the Middle East and the threat of tariffs by the US present challenges for our export companies. Within this context, we continue to be steadfast in our support for Greek companies. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is constantly engaged in this respect both on a bilateral and multilateral basis at home and abroad through our extensive network of Offices for Economic and Commercial Affairs in our Embassies around the globe. Additionally, Enterprise Greece is entrusted with the promotion of exports on a generic as well as a case-to-case operational basis.

How do the recent geopolitical developments affect trade and F&B exports? Would a potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran impact Greek exports?

The world is becoming more fractious and divided with geopolitics having grave impacts on international trade. Countries are increasingly making trade decisions based on global politics rather than just economic benefits. Concerns about trade resilience and national security have been heightened in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with growing debate about the need for protectionism. There has been a rise in trade restrictions since the US-China tariff war and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Some recent policies contain provisions that aim at providing incentives to domestic producers, especially those in technologically advanced sectors – possibly to the detriment of foreign producers. Geopolitical tensions have also serious effects on logistical connectivity and trade routes. To your specific question, I would have to answer positively, not necessarily because Greek F&B products move in large quantities through the Straits of Hormuz but because bottlenecks in that specific location may have ripple effects on containership availability in other parts of the world.