Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-09-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece's progress in meeting financial programme milestones to be discussed at Eurogroup

[02] Meeting between GenSec Kretsos and four TV channels awarded licences

[03] TIF 2016 reflects trends in Greek economy, HELEXPO-TIF CEO tells ANA

[01] Greece's progress in meeting financial programme milestones to be discussed at Eurogroup

The Eurogroup will be briefed by representatives of the institutions representing Greece's creditors and Greek authorities on the implementation of intermediate targets and progress in paying off the state's overdue debts. The agenda reflects the Eurogroup statements about Greece on May 25, which linked the disbursement of a second tranche of loans after the summer to milestones such as privatisations, management of the banks, the General Secretary of Public Revenues and the energy sector, as well as progress in paying the Greek state's overdue debts.

Greece is due to receive another 2.8 billion euros from the 10.3 billion euro tranche of loans linked to successful conclusion of the first review. The remaining 7.5 billion euros was disbursed on June 21.

[02] Meeting between GenSec Kretsos and four TV channels awarded licences

Arriving for the meeting, SKAI representative Costas Kimbouropoulos expressed his full support for the staff of the channels that were not awarded a licence to continue operating but said, in response to questions, that the prospect of cooperating with other channels was "extremely hypothetical".

The meeting focused on procedural issues in the new broadcasting environment created in the wake of the tender. Kimbouropoulos told reporters that an inspection of the wealth statements of the four channels awarded contracts will be completed by Friday, at which time the list of new television channel owners will be officially posted.

The representatives of the channels asked Kretsos to postpone the first installment of their payment for the licences until after the Council of State's ruling in a request for interim measures made by television channels, in a session to be held on September 16.

They also expressed concerns about a platform the government intends to impose on the management of advertising time, saying that this amounted to state control over a free market.

[03] TIF 2016 reflects trends in Greek economy, HELEXPO-TIF CEO tells ANA

After successfully resisting capital controls and a bank holiday in 2015, with 800 participants at TIF during that year, the fair had 1,000 exhibitors taking part in 2016, in a sign that the economy was stabilising, he said.

According to Pozrikidis, the very small number of construction companies and building material providers taking part in the 81st TIF reflects the deep crisis of the construction sector since the start of the seven-year crisis. Conversely, the number of exhibitors reflects a much rosier picture for the food and beverage sector and agricultural sector, while furniture manufacturers, energy and technology appear to be more resistant to the effects of the crisis and more export oriented.

Pozrikidis also referred to what he called the "TIF paradox": whereas TIF had in the past "tracked" GDP growth in the same way as trade fairs throughout the world, in recent years TIF seemed to show greater growth than Greek GDP. He particularly emphasised the trade fair's importance for the local economy, citing a Macedonia University study showing that the city of Thessaloniki would lose some 2.8 pct of its GDP if TIF should cease, while for every 1.00 euro of demand for exhibition product the local economy "rose" by 1.86 euros.

This year's TIF is further notable for the return of Iran and the European Commission, after an absence of several years, with the latter intending to present its humanitarian aid programme in Thessaloniki, while neighbouring Turkey will this year occupy an entire pavilion.

In recognition of 2016 as the Year of Russia in Greece, Russia will be the Guest of Honour, with more than 100 Russian companies participating in the Russian Pavilion. These will include Russian giants such as Gazprom or the Russian Railways, both of which have expressed interest in the privatisations taking place in Greece. As part of the Russian participation, there will be a conference on entrepreneurship and alternative energy sources issues, as well as tourism and industry forums and workshops on transport and communications.

Among domestic participants, only 10 pct are state-sector companies, while the public sector does not account for more than 20 pct of the space occupied by exhibitors, Pozrikidis said. Among those taking part are 46 chambers of commerce and industry throughout the country, bringing several of their member-companies.

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