Russia views investment opportunities in Greece in a very positive light, government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said during an official visit to Moscow on Wednesday.

After meeting with the board of the Russian Federation’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he added that Russia is the first country that the investment bill is being presented in. It will be debated in Greece’s Parliament in the next few weeks. The Russians are responding very positively to the opportunities arising, showing their confidence in the Greek economy, said Kedikoglou.

Joined in Moscow by the Development Ministry’s general secretary, Serafim Tsokas, Kedikoglou discussed the prospects of cooperation with Russian investors in traditional fields such as agricultural products and tourism, as well as in new areas including alternative energy sources, the pharmaceutical industry and holiday homes for the Russian middle classes.

“This has not been a crisis of the Greek economy but of the European Union, and Greece has been chosen to be its victim,” said the vice president of the Russian chamber, Georgi Petrov, expressing the great interest of Russian businesspeople in investing in Greece.