Greece and Saudi Arabia are riding the crest of excellent bilateral ties as Greece marks its National Day on Wednesday.

“The relationship between the two countries is perfect, if I may say so. Greece and Saudi Arabia have close cooperation in various sectors,” Ambassador Ioannis Christofilis told Arab News.

He, however, said that Greece and the Kingdom keep on strengthening their friendly ties, with the Greek Vice Minister for Development Notis Mitarachi visiting Saudi Arabia in November 2014.

Vice Minister for Development Mitarachi’s visit came on the heels of an earlier visit by Tourism Minister Olga Kefaloghianni who arrived in February last year, said the Greek Ambassador.

Olga Kefaloghianni signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities, with the aim of jointly developing tourism projects and activities of mutual benefit.

Mitarachi met with officials from the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) and ministers of planning, finance, economy, among others.

Greece and Saudi Arabia are also enjoying good trade exchange, although both countries are working hard to ramp up their trade volume.

“We are having good trade relations and we are happy over the efforts made by the Kingdom in promoting our products in the local market,” said the Greek envoy.

Bilateral trade for the first six months last year touched 947,115, 700 euros. Greek imports from the Kingdom totaled 595, 433, 104 euros while exports amounted to 351, 682, 597 euros.

Greek exports included petroleum and oils obtained from butaminous minerals (other than crude), marble, travertine and alabaster, margarine, edible mixtures (preparations of animal or vegetable fats), other oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, olives for uses other than oil production, peaches (including nectarines) and parts of turbojets or turbo propellers.