Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-04-28

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM briefed on planned Nokia investments

[01] PM briefed on planned Nokia investments

The two sides held talks on the company's intention to make further investments in Greece, specifically by boosting its Greek R&D Center.

The meeting included Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructure Transport and Networks Minister Costis Hatzidakis, Deputy development Minister Notis Mitarakis, NSN board member Barry French, the head of NSN Hellas CEO Athanasios Exarhos and the head of the Greek branch's R&D Center Aris Drosis.

"It is very significant that a leader of technology, such as Nokia Siemens Networks, is not only expanding its activities (which in itself is very positive news) but is preparing, in addition to the immediate hiring of 150 young scientists, to raise and establish our country as a strategic region. This is where our productive model can truly assist such large, important companies that play a contemporary role today in the global economy," the prime minister stressed.

Stressing that the new jobs to be offered by the firm will be for highly-trained, expert scientists, Samaras underlined that this was particularly good news for young Greeks, who were up against such high unemployment.

"It is on these young people, who must find such opportunities for work that we lean on, that are our support, it is on them and their abilities that we, of course, invest. They are the real wealth of Greece. Through investments that make use of them, such as this. It is precisely with these young Greek scientists, through these investments, that the country will overcome the crisis," Samaras underlined.

According to French, who noted that the Greek government had been very very supportive of NSN's plans, the company is planning to further grow its team in Greece.

"We are looking to hire a number of additional people, particularly people who are software and technical specialists. And what's remarkable about this is that people are able to work on some of the most advanced technology in the world here in Greece. You don't need to go to another country to do it, you can do it right here. Because the stuff that we are doing is powering the mobile internet around the world," he said.

Asked about the prospects of the Greek economy, French said that this had been through a challenging time but stressed that there was some "positive news out there" that people should take into account.

The Finnish ambassador also highlighted that the good news from NSN "means that there will be new opportunities for young people, people in the high tech areas for new interesting jobs. So I think it is good news for Greece, good news for Finland, good news of course for Nokia Siemens Networks."

Hatzdakis, on his part, said that the investment plans outlined during the meeting were "a vote of confidence in the government's efforts." He particularly stressed the fact that it was an investment in a crucial, high-technology sector, in the area of research and technology.

"Our effort, however, is continuing. The efforts of the Antonis Samaras government are to attract investments, because only through investments can we deal with the major problem of unemployment," he said.

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