Governor Lobbies Greeks on Behalf of State Businesses

Gov. Gray Davis, playing the role of chief booster of the world’s seventh-largest economy, on Monday urged business and political leaders in the European Union’s least developed country to buy everything from high-tech military components to prefabricated housing made in California.

The governor also lobbied on behalf of California construction firms for a piece of the building necessary for the 2004 summer Olympic games scheduled here.

In a country usually bypassed by U.S. dignitaries, Davis was afforded a welcome befitting a national leader. He met with top Greek officials, spent 45 minutes at the presidential palace, then was feted at a U.S. Embassy luncheon attended by more than 100 Greek business leaders and members of Parliament.

“I’m here to strengthen economic ties,” Davis told the gathering, repeating themes that he established earlier in his two-week trip to Europe and the Middle East. “I want to open the doors wider.”

At the embassy lunch, U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns effusively praised Davis, calling him one of the “most promising” U.S. governors.

Later, Burns described the Greeks who attended the lunch as being among Athens’ “A list.”

“To have the governor of California go to bat for specific California firms is a unique thing,” Burns said. “It is something they are not used to and that makes an impression.”

Several Californians originally from Greece helped show Davis the Greek way. Angelo Tsakopoulos, a Sacramento developer and owner of a large marble quarry in Greece, was among those who led the governor on a two-hour tour of the Acropolis, ancient cradle of Democracy.

Tsakopoulos is a major Democratic Party donor nationally and in California. He gave $850,000 to state campaigns last year. The governor’s entourage includes several other business and labor leaders, many of whom are major Democratic donors.

“The governor is telling a great story about California,” said Darius Anderson, a Sacramento lobbyist. “When you can make a personal appeal, it goes over well.”

In addition to working as a lobbyist, Anderson is a longtime friend of the governor and his wife Sharon. He also directs the Golden State Host Committee, a nonprofit organization set up by Davis supporters. The organization is paying some expenses of the tour.

Businesspeople on the trip are paying their own expenses.

Although Davis did not receive an audience with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitas, he met with the president, foreign minister and defense minister.

He leaves today for the Middle East, where he is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. He is tentatively set to meet with Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak as well.

The trip is Davis’ second outside the United States since taking office in January. He went to Mexico earlier this year.

Unlike President Clinton, who is scheduled to be in Athens next month, the California governor has the luxury of avoiding talk of long-standing Greco-Turkish disputes and can focus on commerce.

Davis came with the announcement that California’s Greek Americans had raised $120,000 to aid victims of last month’s earthquake, which left about 40,000 survivors homeless.

Davis also offered the expertise of California academicians and engineers to help Greece reinforce structures to withstand future earthquakes. And he lobbied the Greek government on behalf of California companies attempting to sell prefabricated housing for the earthquake victims.

Visits by U.S. governors to Greece are rare, although Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan recently was here.

In his remarks, Davis emphasized California’s cachet, telling the lunch crowd that computers on their desks probably came from Silicon Valley firms and that most of what they see on their televisions and movie screens comes from California. California had estimated exports of $117 million to Greece last year, a 50% increase since 1990.

Davis said he came to Greece in part because “it is a road less traveled” and because it has significant potential for California firms as the country develops. “American business really has not penetrated Greece,” Davis said.

The San Francisco-based Bechtel Co. is building a $3.5-billion subway system in Athens. Parsons Construction Co., another California firm, is lead contractor on a new airport in Athens.

Davis spent last week in London and Dublin. He met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and urged him to work for acceptance of genetically engineered farm products, a controversial issue in Europe. He called on Blair to send British scientists to a California conference on genetically modified food.

On Saturday, Davis played golf at St. Andrew’s in Scotland, the world’s first golf course. His game was interrupted when a golden retriever fetched his ball and dropped it in the rough.

Davis nonetheless shot an 82.