Referring to the U.S. decision to use Greece as a hub for the transport and distribution of LNG within the new vertical European energy corridor, Mr. Exarchou noted that, from a national perspective, this represents one of the most significant developments of recent years. He added that it created a unique opportunity, which the Greek Government seized promptly and decisively. He further emphasized that Greece will henceforth hold a distinct position on the region’s energy map, as it will serve as the point through which U.S. natural gas will be channeled into Europe, a development that grants the country considerable political and economic value.
Strategy and Contribution to the Economy
Mr. Exarchou underlined that the agreement for the establishment of ATLANTIC – SEE LNG TRADE (as well as the recent acquisition of AKTOR Concessions) is part of the AKTOR Group’s strategy to expand into promising new sectors and diversify its revenue mix, thereby insulating the Group from the historical fluctuations of the construction market.
He described the exploitation of this opportunity as the best development to emerge in the energy sector in years, complementing the Group’s existing renewable energy plans and contributing to exceeding its future growth expectations.
He also observed that the AKTOR Group is leveraging all market opportunities, which, as he noted, were far from obvious a few years ago, and which can help sustain the country’s economic growth. Furthermore, Mr. Exarchou pointed out that, following the U.S. decision to utilize Greece as an LNG transport and distribution hub for Europe, the energy sector in Greece is expected to expand further, boosting the national economy and GDP.
Credia Bank and HSBC Malta
Speaking about Credia Bank, in his capacity as a shareholder of Thrivest Holdings, Mr. Exarchou stated that the acquisition of HSBC Malta marks a significant transformation of the bank’s international profile. He stressed that Credia is now a fully restructured institution with clean capital and no deferred tax assets, a result that reflects broader improvements in Greece’s private economy and the joint contribution of the Greek Government, the Bank of Greece, and private shareholders toward establishing a sound fifth banking pillar in the country.
He further described the HSBC Malta acquisition as being equally valuable to Credia Bank as the LNG venture is to AKTOR Group, as it provides—at a reasonable cost—the potential for rapid expansion and stronger market positioning, especially following the organic profitability achieved under CEO Eleni Vrettou’s leadership.
Taking Risks with a Focus on Value Creation
Mr. Exarchou also emphasized that the shareholder groups of Thrivest Holdings and Winex Investments actively evaluate all market opportunities and are not hesitant to take calculated risks, provided there are conditions ensuring safety, profitability, growth, and value creation—both for shareholders and for society at large.
He cited the cases of AKTOR Group and Credia Bank as prime examples of this approach. Regarding Credia Bank, he noted that its expanding scale will give it greater potential in the Greek market, reinforcing its mission to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Finally, the head of the AKTOR Group commented on the broader economic landscape, noting that in recent years Greece has achieved a small economic miracle, successfully rebounding from the crisis years and restoring confidence in the national economy. This renewed trust, he added, has paved the way for developments such as Greece’s emergence as a U.S. LNG hub—and beyond.
