Lifting of capital controls might within 2016, Economy Minister Stathakis foresees

The lifting of capital controls is feasible within 2016, Economy, Development and Tourism Minister George Stathakis said to “Sunday’s Vima” newspaper.

He said that the business climate has started to improve and that “In the third quarter, with capital controls and uncertainty over Greece’s stay in the eurozone, GDP fell by only 1.1%. If the decline is limited to 0.2% in the current quarter, the economy will record growth for the year 2015. In any case, I believe that GDP will return to an upward trend before the summer.”

As for the development law, he said: “The new development law will focus on criteria for innovative businesses, youth entrepreneurship and the export orientation of the selected investment.”

Asked about his asset declaration he commented that the accounts in question were his mother’s with her two children, him and his brother, as co-beneficiaries and that was declared in 2013 adding that in 2014 he was not included in the bank account.

Regarding the real estate declaration, he noted that there was no omission concerning his properties adding that some of the properties were his wife where she participated at maximum of 3% and were declared in 2013 and 2014.