ATHENS — Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday paid a visit to the Rural Development and Food Ministry, as part of a series of visits to ministries following the latest cabinet reshuffle. The prime minister reiterated the agricultural sector's central position in the country's growth strategy, highlighting the need to protect Greek products through a label indicating Greek origin.

"I think that we all share the same vision for our primary sector. A vision that will make our products, above all, competitive in the domestic and international markets. A vision that will bring young farmers back to the field, the countryside, new fishermen to the sea, because they can expect a satisfactory income through this work," he said.

Mitsotakis underlined the importance of a national label to signify the origin of Greek foods, announcing that the relevant legislation will be overhauled and streamlined "so that whoever pays for the Greek brand and the consumer that sees the Greek brand, either in Greece or abroad, will know that there is Greek added value to our Greek products."

The prime minister also referred to the plans to promote the Greek diet, which he said could be a bridge connecting farming with Greece's tourism product, "as well as a very important comparative advantage of the country and our products and a natural connection with the food industry, which is extremely dynamic in our country, with greater added value than other industries."

He also referred to the good prospects of the fishing and aquaculture sector, noting that the latter produced the country's top food export, and the steps taken to develop this further, as well as the action taken to protect the primary sector during the pandemic.

PM Mitsotakis pays visit to rural development and food ministry. (Photo by Eurokinissi/ Tatiana Bollari)

Rural Development and Foods Minister Spilios Livanos said the ministry aimed to support the sector and promote the country's high-quality products, boosting competitiveness, productivity, streamlined agricultural production and a comprehensive development of the rural sector through good use of natural resources and respect for the environment.

Government sources said the meeting held at the ministry examined initiatives to further protect the Greekness of products, boosting their recognisability and the worth of the Greek brand, as well as other actions to boost the primary sector.