Alfred Kammer (IMF): 4.2% GDP growth this year with Greece exceeding its 2019 pre-Covid output level

The full repayment of the IMF loans, which could come even within the next month, marks the end of a traumatic era for Greece. In an interview with Naftemporiki, Alfred Kammer, the director of the European Department at the IMF, points out 4 key lessons from the management of the debt crisis and explains how the future IMF-Greece relationship will be shaped. He shares the IMF estimates for the prospects of Greek GDP growth and debt sustainability and he identifies the main risks for Greek and European economy.The IMF expects the Greek economy to grow by 4.2% this year with Greece exceeding its 2019 pre-Covid output level. However Alfred Kammer warns that the uncertain evolution of Omicron and possible future new variants is a key downside risk to growth. Another serious challenge is the high energy cost and inflation. He stresses that governments should address it through targeted and temporary measures that support vulnerable groups.