ATHENS – [ANA-MPA]
More Greeks are returning to their homeland as of 2023 than leaving Greece, Deputy Premier Kostis Hatzidakis said at the “inForum Brain Retain & Regain” conference organized by news site “in.gr” on June 2 at the former Public Tobacco Factory / Hellenic Parliament Library and Printing House at Lenorman St., in Athens.
Citing official data, Hatzidakis noted that “out of the 600,000 Greeks who left during the crisis, 400,000 have already returned. Moreover, in 2023, the Greek Citizens inflow-outflow balance was positive for the first time since 2008: 47,200 of our compatriots returned, compared to 32,800 who left”.
“This is not accidental. It relates to more specific measures the government has taken, such as special tax incentives with a 50% tax cut for 7 years for those returning, the efforts of the Labor Ministry in cooperation with the business community in Greece, even more specialized measures for doctors. But basically, it is related to the fact that the conditions are changing. We are no longer in a Greece of crisis. We have not become a paradise, but things have definitely changed. There is a lot that needs to be done, but there are opportunities that lead to us having more Greeks return to Greece than ones who leave”, Hatzidakis continued.
Referring in particular to the government’s strategy to reverse the brain drain, Hatzidakis pointed out the efforts to support research, innovation and start-up businesses.
