Gov't holds high hopes for forthcoming Macron visit

The government is working hard to prepare for a scheduled visit to Greece on September 7 and 8 by French President Emmanuel Macron, seeking to boost the interest of French investors and encourage a large delegation of entrepreneurs to accompany him on his trip.

Diplomats meanwhile are examining pledges for economic cooperation made by Macron's predecessor Francois Hollande during a visit to Athens last year and looking to pave the way for more concrete commitments during Macron's visit to the Greek capital at the beginning of next month.

Sources close to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras are hoping to elicit specific commitments from French companies that have already expressed an interest in investing in the Thessaloniki Port Authority as part of a privatization drive that Greece is under pressure from international creditors to intensify.

A statement of intent by a...