Tsipras says Greece ‘close’ to concluding deal with lenders

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Wednesday Greece is close to concluding a deal with lenders on a multi billion euro bailout, which he said would end doubts over the country's presence in the eurozone.

"We are in the final stretch of concluding a deal with the institutions… Despite the difficulties we are facing we hope this agreement can end uncertainty on the future of Greece and of the eurozone," he said during a visit to the country's agriculture ministry.

During his visit to the ministry Tsipras announced a 6 billion euro agricultural program the government was hoping to develop through 2020. The program could lead to the development of 50,000 jobs, he said.

Tsipras also noted the SYRIZA-led administration was seeking to make a distinction between those employed in the agricultural sector full time and those earning revenues from agricultural activities. In the case of those fully employed in the agricultural sector the government was seeking to negotiate a 13 percent value-added tax, Tsipras said.

[Reuters, Kathimerini]