Foreign investment doubles in Greece in first seven months of 2026
Foreign direct investment in Greece nearly doubled in the first seven months of 2026, reaching €7.6 billion compared with €3.9 billion in the same period last year, according to the latest data from the Bank of Greece.
The increase follows a record €12.6 billion in FDI recorded in 2025 and places investment inflows at roughly three times their level in the first seven months of 2019, when they stood at €2.5 billion.
Banking and energy deals drive surge
Two major corporate developments accounted for a significant part of this year’s increase.
In January, Italian bank UniCredit raised its stake in Alpha Bank from 20% to about 30%, contributing to €2.2 billion in foreign direct investment recorded during the month.
In May, PPC completed a €4.25 billion share capital increase that attracted substantial participation from international investment firms. CVC Capital Partners, PPC’s largest private shareholder and second-largest shareholder overall after the Greek state, announced that it would invest €1.2 billion in the capital increase.
Foreign investment reached €1.7 billion in May.
Under international investment rules, a foreign company’s acquisition of more than 10% of a domestic company is classified as direct investment rather than portfolio investment.
Stournaras highlights wider economic impact
Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras said the importance of FDI extends beyond the capital entering the Greek economy.
“FDI is not limited to the inflow of capital into the Greek economy,” Stournaras said, stressing that foreign investment also facilitates the transfer of know-how, innovation and advanced business practices.
He said these benefits can strengthen the productivity and competitiveness of Greek companies and the wider economy.
Stournaras also described foreign direct investment as a potential catalyst for the productive transformation of the Greek economy and for expanding the country’s export base.
The latest figures indicate that Greece continues to attract substantial international investment, with major transactions in the banking and energy sectors playing a significant role in the sharp increase recorded in 2026.
Source:AMNA
