Harris Ikonomopoulos, president of the British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce – which is holding a conference in London for would-be buyers of Greek assets at Claridges later this month – says: "These are long stagnating assets – and it is a good thing that the sales process is being expedited to fill up the coffers and jump-start the economy. More than that, competition will create growth. New investment in Greece is essential because it will produce new taxpayers and new tax income."