ATHENS, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron urged French businesses to invest in Greece to support its effort to overcome the debt crisis, wrapping up his first official visit to Greece on Friday.
"We have been here, we are still present and we will remain here...I would like to express my confidence that French businesses will participate in this effort," the French leader said addressing a meeting between Greek and French business entrepreneurs in Athens.
Approximately 40 CEOs of French giants in business arrived with Macron in the Greek capital on Thursday to explore investment opportunities in Greece.
The attraction of investments is a key element in Greece's plan to exit bailouts, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras noted during the Greek-French business forum, assuring that his government will continue reforms to create a more business friendly environment.
"We believe that after seven years of a crisis which exposed Europe's weaknesses... Greece can hope again, can stand on its feet again," Tsipras said.
During Friday's forum Greek Economy Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou and Nicolas Dufourq, chief executive officer of France's Public Investment Bank, signed a memorandum of cooperation for the establishment of a Greek Development Bank.
Under the plan the French side will provide knowhow for the creation of the new entity which will support small- and medium-sized Greek companies.
During talks with Greek political leaders on Thursday several times Macron stressed that France will support Greece to achieve economic recovery, urging all EU member states to restore trust in their relations, support each other and build a stronger EU in coming years.
"We need to find the strength to restart Europe...What France chooses to do today is to discuss this vision and ambition for a stronger Europe," he said delivering a speech on his vision for the EU's future under the Acropolis hill on Thursday evening.
