Magazyn kulturalny “Kikimora” – Wydanie poświęcone Grecji (lato 2012)

Kwartalny magazyn kulturalny “Kikimora” (wydanie lato 2012, numer 11, s. 200, http://www.kiki-mora.pl), który kierowany jest do rodziców i trendsetterów, specjalizujący się w sztuce, stylu życia, edukacji, projektowaniu itd. opublikował pod tytułem “Hellada” wydanie poświęcone Grecji.
Przed wydaniem publikacji, wydawca Jacek Rekuc oraz redaktor naczelna Agnieszka Marszałek współpracowali z Biurem Prasowym i Komunikacji oraz z Biurem ds. Handlowych i Ekonomicznych Ambasady Grecji w Warszawie.

Magazyn zawiera obszerne artykuły poświęcone modzie dla dzieci i trendom w Grecji (np. fotograficzny reportaż mody inspirowany starożytnymi igrzyskami olimpijskimi, starożytną grecką filozofią oraz mitologią  – patrz «Olympic Games», «Philosophy», “Καλημέρα”, «Σ», «Τhere is no place for Gods»), greckiej modzie oraz wpływami starożytnej Grecji, greckim kreatorom mody (np. Maria Katrantzou), greckim projektantom mody i kreatorom nowoczesnych form sztuki w Grecji  (kino, fotografia), młodym artystom greckim itp.

Równocześnie publikowane są rozmowy poświęcone mieszanym grecko – polskim rodzinom (wywiady zostały przeprowadzone z rodzinami Gmochów, Vasileiadis’ów i Vafidisów) i opisują życie rodzinne w Polsce (święta, zwyczaje, itp.) oraz podkreślają  znaczenie rodziny w Grecji i Polsce.
W słowie wstępnym redaktor naczelna magazynu Agnieszka Marszałek twierdzi, że “rodzina ma się dobrze, greckie kino i dizajn, literatura rozwija się – być może kryzys pozytywnie wpłynie na kulturę i sztukę Grecji. Być może wierność rodzinie, tradycji, ideałom uratuje Greków”.

W sekcji pt “Ateny” prezentowane są atrakcje idealne dla wizyt rodzinnych, propozycje wycieczek, festiwali, wystaw, rozrywki i zakupów w greckiej stolicy (Greckie Muzeum Dziecięce, Muzeum Benakisa, Muzeum Dotyku, Park Uwrażliwienia Środowiskowego im.  Antonis’a Tritsisa, Technopolis, Galeria Rzeźby, dzielnica Monastiraki, kina letnie, sklep muzyczne, galerie, sklepy mody, itp.).
W obszernych artykułach poświęconych greckiej sztuce prezentowane jest greckie kino, zwłaszcza twórczość reżyserki Athiny Rachel Tsangari, muzyka, w rozmowie z grecko-polskim muzykiem i wydawcą Costas’em Georgakopoulos’em, założycielem festiwalu “Art Avant”, fotografia poprzez wywiad z fotografem Christiną Dimitriadis (rozmowa zatytułowana “Wierzę w duchy pamięci”), literatura (publikacja poświęcona pisarzowi Christosowi Tsiolkas zatytułowana “Straszne dziecko starej Grecji”), komiksy i artykuł o  Apostolos’ie Doxiadis’ie.
Publikowane są również reportaże społeczne,  m.in. artykuł dziennikarza o greckich korzeniach Dionisios’a Stouris’a (zatytułowany „Młodzi grecy pakują walizki”) jak też artykuły poświecone greckiej rodzinie oraz skutkom kryzysu gospodarczego.
Pojawiają się także artykuły o słynnych Grekach, takich jak Maria Callas, Arystoteles Onassis i Telis Savalas.

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Events during the European Football Championship – Participation of the Press Office

On the occasion of the European Football Championship “EURO 2012”, organized in Poland and Ukraine from 8th June until 1st July, the Press Office participated in several events.  

• “Cultural Week of Greeks in Poland” (Warsaw. 2-8 June 2012) 
  The events, that took place at “Galleria Freta” in the historical center of Warsaw, were organized by the musician of Greek origin Milo Kurtis and under the auspices of the Greek Embassy in Warsaw.
  They included concerts, exhibitions of paintings, sculptures and photographs, films, classes of Greek dances, a theater performance, a debate on Greece`s current affairs, gastronomy etc.
  Several musicians, such as Milo Kurtis and “Naxos Quintet”, Kostas Georgiadis and the group “Edesea”, Apostolis Anthimos, Jorgos Skolias and “Sefardic Trio”, Maja Sikorowska, the group ‘Olympus’, several artists, such as the sculptor Christos Mandzios, the painter Michalis Chrisoulidis and the photographer Kostas Kawardzis, the film director Athena Savidis, the journalist Dionysios Sturis, the philosopher and musician Ilias Vrazas, the byzantine choir of the orthodox church of St. Mary Magdalene in Warsaw, were among those who have performed during the cultural week. 
• Greek Embassy`s event in honour of the Greek National Football Team (Warsaw, 9 June 2012) 
  Representatives of business, academic and artistic sectors of Greeks in Poland, Polish academics, journalists and representatives of Polish authorities, Greek journalists covering the participation of the Greek football team in “Euro 2012”, the General Secretary of Sports, Panos Bitsaxis, were among the participants. 
• Celebrations of Legionowo City hosting the Greek National Football Team (Legionowo, 2 June 2012)
  A ceremony during which the official city-keys of Legionowo were handed over to the charge d`affaires of the Greek Embassy, Stavros Spyridakis. 
• Polish Railways’ promotion of European countries during the Football Championship and for six months afterwards (May – December 2012)
  For the promotion of the European Football Championship in 20 trains, Polish Railways have painted 16 of them in the colours of European countries` flags. On the 19th of May there was a parade of 5 trains painted with the colours of Greek, Polish, Ukrainian, Czech and Russian flags on a central bridge of  Warsaw. 
  The Press Office collaborated with representatives of the Polish Railways (PKP) in order to present the Greek flag on a Polish train. 
• “Fan`s Dictionary” for the volunteers` communication during the European Football Championship
  The dictionary includes common phrases in major European languages and was issued in cooperation with the UEFA, the EUNIC Cluster Warsaw (EU National Institutes for Culture) and the French Institute in Warsaw. The Press Office translated the leaflet into Greek language. 

“True Greece”- GNTO initiative promoting image of Greece as an ideal tourism destination

The Greek National Tourism Organisation (G.N.T.O), within its framework of initiatives introduces today

a new tool designed to reverse the current climate and downward trend that is impacting the country’s tourism industry in the international travel market.
More specifically, the G.N.T.O. in cooperation with the interim government’s leadership of the Greek Ministry of Culture and Tourism, representatives of the travel industry, and other officials, set forth to integrate a new web-based platform into the existing current promotional campaign aiming to promote the positive aspects of Greece as a tourist destination.
The Internet and social media applications are already being used very successfully by the G.N.T.O to post news and to communicate the tourism “brand added value” of  Greece. The Internet-based initiative aims to further promote the positive publicity of Greece as a tourist destination on the Internet, utilizing effectively social media platform network externalities. On this basis, it was considered necessary to develop an online reputation management mechanism and brand monitoring mechanism to oversee and manage the comments, opinions and observations made about Greece as a tourist destination.

The initiatives’ key priorities are:
a. The promotion and communication of key elements and competitive advantages of the Greek tourism product
b. The promotion and dissemination (through social media) of positive messages/opinions that visitors have about their experiences (via video spots, web testimonials, reviews, posts, tweets)

 The aforementioned initiative will focus on three key subject areas:
1.  Business as usual
2. Value For Money/Affordability
3. Safety

The initiative is already being supported by a series of government agencies including Greek Radio Television S.A., the Athens News Agency and the Hellenic Foreign Ministry. The agencies will be assisting the effort by tracking and gathering news and other related material as well as working with local, national and international media outlets.
To join the effort as a true supporter and to send news and information about Greeceas a tourist destination found on the Internet, please contact the team at the GNTO at visitgreece@gnto.gr

“Greece is Changing” campaign

Greece is Changing, is a campaign launched through international media, in four languages, English, French, German and Dutch, aiming to bring to the attention of a wider international audience, through a series of graphs and compact information, the changes initiated in Greece in the last two years.
It is a one-off public service initiative funded by a group of leading Greek business people, whose aim is to ensure that the sacrifices made by every Greek under the toughest austerity package in modern history, are not in vain.

Greek Companies prospering in Poland (Warsaw Business Journal)

Greece has made the headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2011, with the country being hit by political turmoil as it struggles under the effects of the economic crisis. However, for many Greek companies based inPoland, this year has been business as usual.
There are currently about 40 companies with Greek capital active in the Polish market, according to figures from the Embassy of Greece in Warsaw.
Greek-owned companies have invested more than €1.4 billion and created a total of 11,000 jobs in Poland, the country’s ambassador to Poland, Gabriel Coptsidis, said in a statement earlier this year.
Mellon Group, a company headquartered in Athens specializing in IT services and sales for financial institutions, telecommunications firms and companies in the retail sector, established itself in the Polish market almost six years ago. A growing Polish client base, which includes lenders such as PKO Bank Polski, Polbank EFG, and mBank, helped Mellon Poland make it in to the top 100 companies of Europe’s 500 fastest growing companies in 2010. Europe’s 500, which makes the ranking, is an association of fast growing owner-managed companies in Europe.
“This year is better than the previous one, and we have not been affected,” said Grigorios Kotoulas, General Manager, Mellon Poland. “However, we see in the market that there is a slowdown, but not a recession. We are making plans accordingly but none that … will affect our forecast for2012”, he added.
For Lefteris Maroulis, general director of sports betting firm Totolotek (owned by Greek company Intralot), business has been going well inPoland. Totolotek is a company which has been organizing sports betting in Poland since 1992 and operates close to 400 locations in the country.
(Warsaw Business Journal, 20/12/2011)

Για την προετοιμασία του άρθρου η δημοσιογράφος Veronika Joy συνεργάστηκε με το Γραφείο Τύπου και το Γραφείο Οικονομικών και Εμπορικών Υποθέσεων.

Εκδήλωση Ελληνικής Πρεσβείας για τον τουρισμό (Βαρσοβία, 30/11/2011)

Εκδήλωση με θέμα «Οι προοπτικές της συνεργασίας Ελλάδας – Πολωνίας στον τουριστικό τομέα», με διοργανωτή το Γραφείο Οικονομικών και Εμπορικών Υποθέσεων της Ελληνικής Πρεσβείας, πραγματοποιήθηκε στις 30 Νοεμβρίου στη Βαρσοβία. Η εκδήλωση είχε ως στόχο την διερεύνηση δυνατοτήτων και προοπτικών ενίσχυσης και περαιτέρω προώθησης της τουριστικής συνεργασίας μεταξύ Ελλάδας και Πολωνίας. 
Περίπου 400.000 πολωνοί τουρίστες επισκέφθηκαν τη χώρα μας κατά το 2010, σημειώνοντας αύξηση κατά 98% σε σχέση με το 2009 (στοιχεία ΣΕΤΕ), ενώ οι συνολικές εισπράξεις από την έλευσή τους έφθασαν στα 217 εκ. ευρώ (στοιχεία Τράπεζας της Ελλάδας). Αντίστοιχα, υπήρξαν 39.500 αφίξεις ελλήνων τουριστών στην Πολωνία, οι συνολικές πληρωμές των οποίων έφθασαν στα 24 εκ. ευρώ, με αποτέλεσμα το πλεόνασμα στο τουριστικό ισοζύγιο υπέρ της χώρας μας να φθάνει στα 193 εκ. ευρώ.
Η φετινή εκδήλωση με θέμα  ‘’Enhancing the prospects of Greek & Polish cooperation in the tourism sector’’, αποτελούσε συνέχεια αντιστοίχων εκδηλώσεων οικονομικού ενδιαφέροντος, των προηγουμένων τεσσάρων ετών. Επιδίωξη της ήταν η ενημέρωση της τοπικής τουριστικής επιχειρηματικής κοινότητας, πολωνικής και ελληνικής (tour operators, tour agents, δημοσιογράφοι, υπουργεία, επιμελητήρια, ακαδημαϊκή κοινότητα), για την κατάσταση στον τομέα του ελληνικού τουρισμού, αλλά και για τις δυνατότητες και ευκαιρίες για ανάληψη επιχειρηματικών πρωτοβουλιών που προσφέρονται, αντίστοιχα, στην Ελλάδα και στη Πολωνία.

Business Seminar on Greek & Polish cooperation in tourism (Warsaw, 30.11.2011)

The Embassy of Greece in Poland is pleased to invite you to a Business Seminar, titled

‘’Enhancing the prospects of Greek & Polish cooperation in the tourism sector’’

30th November 2011 (Wednesday) 17:30-19:00, Hyatt Regency Hotel, 23 Belwederska Av., Warsaw, Ballroom C, ground floor.

The seminar will be held in English language.
Purpose of the Seminar is to inform the members of the greek-polish business community (Chambers, Tour Operators, Tour Agents, Journalists etc), about the situation in the greek & polish tourism sector, their prospects and finally the chances and areas for more intense cooperation.
At the end of the Seminar, the participants will have the opportunity for further discussions during the business buffet.
An introduction will be given by the Head of Economic & Commercial Office of the Embassy, Mr. P. Giannoulis and main speakers will be the President of the “Greek Hotels Chamber’’, the Director of the greek tour operator ‘’Travel Plan’’ and the President of the ‘’The Polish Tourism Chamber’’.
Those of you, who are wishing to attend, you are kindly requested to confirm your participation on e-mail: ecocom-warsaw@mfa.gr

Ambasada Grecji w Warszawie ma przyjemność zaprosić na seminarium biznesowe pt

„Zwiększając perspektywy grecko-polskiej współpracy w sektorze turystyki”

w dniu 30 listopada 2011 (środa) w godz. 17:30-19:00 w Hotelu Hyatt Regency (ul. Belwederska 23, sala Ballroom C, parter )
Seminarium odbędzie się w języku angielskim.
Celem spotkania jest poinformowanie grecko-polskiej społeczności (izby handlowe, tour-operatorzy, agenci turystyczni, dziennikarze itp) o sytuacji panującej w greckim i polskim sektorze turystycznym, perspektywach, szansach oraz możliwościach zacieśniania współpracy.
Po zakończeniu seminarium uczestnicy będą mieli okazję do kontynuowania dyskusji podczas bufetu biznesowego.
Słowo wstępne zostanie wygłoszone przez Radcę ds Ekonomiczno-Handlowych Ambasady Grecji, Pana P. Giannoulis’a, głównymi mówcami będą Przewodniczący Izby Greckich Hoteli, Dyrektor greckiego tour-operatora “Travel Plan” oraz Przewodniczący Polskiej Izby Turystyki.
Osoby zainteresowane uczestnictwem proszone są o potwierdzenie udziału wysyłając maila na adres: ecocom-warsaw@mfa.gr

Greek Exports Rise to Over 10% of GDP

Exports account for more than 10% of Greece’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or more than €20 billion on an annual basis, recording a 13% growth rate, according to the Panhellenic Exporters Association.
In a report over export trends in the January-August period, the Association estimates that Greek exports grew by 11% (€18 billion) last year, while the Organisation for Economic Cο-Operation and Development (OECD) has revised upwards its projections for a 9.4% growth rate, from an initial 6%.
Presenting the report, the Association Chairwoman Christina Sakellaridi said the figures “confirm the importance of exporting business activity in the effort towards the recovery of the Greek economy.”

 Greek exports -excluding oil products- surpassed €20.5 billion in the September 2010-August 2011 period, an increase by 13.3% compared to the previous 12-month period. The August export figures represent a 32% rise in fuels and oil products, a 42.5% increase in confidential products, a 15% rise in machinery/transport, a 13% increase in industrial products.
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

Επιχειρηματική εκδήλωση Γραφείου ΟΕΥ Ελληνικής Πρεσβείας Βαρσοβίας (7/12/2010)

Πραγματοποιήθηκε στις 7 Δεκεμβρίου στη Βαρσοβία επιχειρηματική εκδήλωση απευθυνόμενη στους οικονομικούς εταίρους και συνεργάτες των ελληνικών επιχειρήσεων στην Πολωνία. 
Η εκδήλωση είχε ως στόχο την διερεύνηση δυνατοτήτων και προοπτικών ενίσχυσης και περαιτέρω προώθησης της οικονομικής και επιχειρηματικής συνεργασίας ανάμεσα στην Ελλάδα και την Πολωνία. 
Η φετινή εκδήλωση με θέμα ‘’ Global Crisis, Chances for Business Opportunities & Greek-Polish Economic & Entrepreneurial Cooperation’’, αποτελούσε συνέχεια αντίστοιχων εκδηλώσεων των προηγουμένων τριών ετών. Επιδίωξή της ήταν η ενημέρωση της τοπικής επιχειρηματικής κοινότητας – πολωνικής και ελληνικής – για την κατάσταση της ελληνικής οικονομίας, αλλά και για τις ευκαιρίες για ανάληψη επιχειρηματικών πρωτοβουλιών στην Ελλάδα και στην Πολωνία.
Σε σύντομο χαιρετισμό του πρέσβη Γαβριήλ Κοπτσίδη, στην έναρξη της εκδήλωσης, επισημάνθηκαν ως βασικοί στόχοι της εκδήλωσης, η επίτευξη μιας περισσότερο εποικοδομητικής οικονομικής συνεργασίας σε διμερές επίπεδο, η ενίσχυση της παρουσίας ελληνικών επιχειρήσεων στην πολωνική αγορά, καθώς και το ενδιαφέρον που παρουσιάζει η ανάληψη πολωνικών επενδυτικών πρωτοβουλιών προς την Ελλάδα.
Η βουλευτής και πρόεδρος της Επιτροπής Ελληνο-Πολωνικών Σχέσεων, Iwonna Arent, χαιρέτησε την εκδήλωση, εκτιμώντας ότι συμβάλλει στη περαιτέρω ανάπτυξη των διμερών σχέσεων, καθώς η επιχειρηματική πρωτοβουλία διαθέτει μια δυναμική που συνδράμει και ενισχύει την προώθηση και των πολιτικών σχέσεων. 
Ο διευθυντής του Υπουργείου Οικονομίας, αρμόδιος για θέματα χωρών Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, M. Korowajcyk, επεσήμανε τις προόδους  που έχει επιτύχει μέχρι σήμερα η πολωνική οικονομία, καθώς και τις δυνατότητες που παρουσιάζει η χώρα του ως δυναμικός εμπορικός, επιχειρηματικός και οικονομικός εταίρος της Ελλάδος.  
Εκπρόσωποι επιχειρηματικών φορέων, όπως ο W. Szewko από πολωνικής πλευράς (Business Center Club) και ο Ι. Πατσιαβός από ελληνικής πλευράς (ΣΕΒ), εξέφρασαν την ικανοποίησή τους για την πραγματοποίηση της συγκεκριμένης εκδήλωσης και αναφέρθηκαν διεξοδικά στην συμβολή των φορέων που εκπροσωπούν στην ανάπτυξη και στην ανάγκη εξωστρέφειας των επιχειρήσεων.
Στο δεύτερο μέρος της εκδήλωσης έγιναν παρουσιάσεις :  
– από τον προϊστάμενο του Γραφείου ΟΕΥ της Πρεσβείας, Π. Γιαννούλη, Σύμβουλο ΟΕΥ Β’, σχετικά με την κατάσταση της ελληνικής οικονομίας, και τις θετικές δυνατότητες που αυτή επιφυλάσσει, παρά την κρίση, για τη δυνατότητα δυναμικής παρουσίας και προόδου  ελληνικών επιχειρήσεων στην πολωνική αγορά, καθώς και τις ικανοποιητικές προοπτικές περαιτέρω ανάπτυξής τους, 
– από τρεις εκπροσώπους ελληνικών επιχειρήσεων που δραστηριοποιούνται επιτυχώς στην Πολωνία, τον  Dan Nistor (Coca Cola 3E), τον Ν. Σμιρνόφ (Chipita) και τον Σ. Γεωργιάδη (Mantis), οι οποίοι υπογράμμισαν την επιτυχημένη παρουσία των επιχειρήσεών τους στην πολωνική αγορά και τη σημαντική τους ανάπτυξη στους τομείς δραστηριότητάς τους. 
Η εκδήλωση ολοκληρώθηκε με δεξίωση που παρέθεσε η Πρεσβεία προς τους συμμετέχοντες, με την παρουσία της πρέσβεως της Κύπρου, στελεχών ελληνικών επιχειρήσεων στην Πολωνία, καθώς και αντίστοιχων εκπροσώπων πολωνικών επιχειρήσεων που δραστηριοποιούνται στην Ελλάδα.
Το Γραφείο Τ’ύπου συνέβαλε στην προβολή της εκδήλωσης, πραγματοποιώντας μεταξύ άλλων, σε συνεργασία με το Γραφείο ΟΕΥ, ειδικές συναντήσεις με οικονομικούς συντάκτες και διευθυντές πολωνικών ΜΜΕ. 

The “Economist” Conference

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) A much timely “Economist” Conference was addressed yesterday by the country’s leadership and experts from the financial and business world.

Taking the floor, Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou availed himself of the opportunity to note that Greece’s fiscal problems are also an issue for the entire eurozone and marked that a spill-over effect will not leave other eurozone countries unaffected, especially those which are as vulnerable as Greece.
The remarks were reported one day before the European Commission announces its recommendations on the country’s stability programme , which is most likely to receive European approval.   

“Deficit Fetishism is a Mistake”
Addressing the Conference (Discussion and Debate with Joseph Stiglitz on the World Economy 2010), Nobel Economics Laureate 2001, former Senior Vice President of the World Bank, and Professor at Columbia University Joseph Stiglitz, dismissed fears that Greece will go bankrupt, adding that, when struggling with recession, governments ought to be careful with their rectifying measures.
“Cutting deficits in the wrong way can be counterproductive.”
Kathimerini daily: Greek woes are a eurozone issue

Economist Joseph Stiglitz to visit Athens

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Economist and Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz is invited to participate at an open debate, titled “Discussion and debate with Joseph Stiglitz: in or out of the economic crisis?,” organized by the Economist and Hazlis & Rivas conferences, on February 2. 
Prime Minister George Papandreou will inaugurate the conference with an opening address, focusing on the government’s effort to fulfil the twin aim of monetary restructuring and growth.
Ministers, the leader of the opposition New Democracy party, Antonis Samaras as well as representatives of business associations will also participate at the conference.
Meanwhile, Stiglitz has contributed an article (January 25) in the ‘Comment is Free’ section of The Guardian, under the title “A principled Europe would not leave Greece to bleed,” urging Europe to show support for the honesty and integrity of Greece’s government and its efforts not only to bring the budget under control, but to increase transparency of the entire budgetary framework and to reduce corruption.

Finance Minister Interview in “Der Spiegel”

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)      Greece has no current need for credit and the excessive pessimism of the financial markets is unjustified, Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou told German weekly Der Spiegel, in an interview. He added that while Greek spreads had soared this week, they would narrow once again, when Greece had proven that it was doing all it could, to improve the country’s financial situation. “We are in a very serious fiscal situation, we have debts with a dangerous dynamic,” said the minister. “But we have a new government that clearly recognizes the problem. With our savings programme, we will reduce the deficit in the coming year by 3.6 percentage points.” Papaconstantinou further said that there was no reason for Greece to ask for help from the International Monetary Fund. Instead, it would solve its problems inside the European Union and according to the bloc’s rules. Greece would release a new bond at the beginning of January, he concluded.  On Friday, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said Greece would meet its debt obligations and planned to reduce its budget deficit to below 3 percent of GDP within four years, sending bond yields lower. Today, the premier is expected to announce the measures, his government plans to implement, following talks with representatives of labour unions and business groups. Foreign and Currency News: Greece has no urgent credit need – Greek Finmin

Black Sea Business Forum / Thessaloniki, 12 & 13 November 2009

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) The Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline is a significant project with geopolitical, economic and energy importance, Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis noted, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Black Sea Business Forum in Thessaloniki, on November 12. 
The 3rd Union of Black Sea and Caspian Confederation of Enterprises (UBCCE) business forum, entitled “Seizing New Investment and Trade Opportunities in the Black Sea and Caspian in the Post Crisis Era,” is being held in Thessaloniki on November 12-13.

It is hosted by the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises and the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece.
Addressing the event, Kouvelis stressed Greece’s commitment to the enhancement of co-operation with the European Union, through the establishment of “Black Sea Partnerships” within the “Black Sea Synergy” process, as well as through the new “Eastern Partnership” EU initiative.
Greece, he said, will have the chance to advance this perspective during the Greek Chairmanship of the Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), which commences on June 1, 2010.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization

Greek Business Matters

♦ 2009 Budget Progress

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Following the end of the first semester of 2009, the government, true has re-evaluated the consequences of the global crisis on Greek economy and the national budget, as well as the predictions concerning growth prospects in 2009.  After evaluating the data, it emerges that certain sectors of the economy, mainly private consumption and exports, will experience a downturn worse than predicted in the updated Growth and Stability programme. However, Economy and Finance Minister Yannis Papathanssiou believes the Greek economy will enter a recovery phase towards the end of the year, and will definitely record positive growth rates in 2010, as he stated during a recent press conference (25.6.2009).  Ministry of Economy and Finance: Tables on the 2009 Budget Progress

♦ HEPO: New Website 

The Hellenic Foreign Trade Board (HEPO) is officially responsible for implementing the export policy of Greece. The organization focuses primarily on designing and coordinating activities for firms to expand their business into foreign markets, promoting best-practices in line with the national export policy, as well as encouraging and assisting SMEs in entering international markets. With the goal of reinforcing the efforts of Greek companies to expand their activities to foreign markets, HEPO implements a further innovative and ambitious initiative, titled “Greek building materials,” & “Greek building services.”  The initiative is incorporated into the framework of the country’s broad exporting policy set by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and concerns the overall promotion of the sectors of construction, building materials, equipment, and related services. For information, visit HEPO’s new website

Invest in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Invest in Greece Agency: Investment Overview .The publication is also available in German, Russian, Japanese and Arabic.  Greece offers businesspeople a wide variety of investment opportunities that utilise the country’s strategic geographic location and unique competitive advantages.  It is a natural gateway to more than 140 million consumers in Southeast Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, a region with a GDP of almost €1 trillion.  Investors are discovering that Greece has a combination of characteristics that are unequalled in Europe. It is a leading global tourism destination, an emerging regional energy hub, and possesses human capital that is outstanding. Key economic sectors are: tourism, energy, shipping, food & beverage, real estate, logistics, banking and finance, ICT & R+D, as well as environment and waste management. More Publications: Invest in Greece Agency – Media Centre 

A Sea of Opportunity

Being a worldwide popular tourism destination, Greece is a natural haven for sailors. With a coastline of more than 15,000 kilometres, one of the longest in the world, and more than 3,000 islands and islets, Greece offers sailing enthusiasts endless opportunities to enjoy its crystal clear seas, natural beauty, and renowned cultural and historical attractions. New modern marinas, hotel ports and moorings for the safe docking of boats already operate or are under construction, as demand for professional marina services is growing, ushering in significant investment opportunities, for construction and upgrading of infrastructure at favourable pricing. Public Private Partnership legislation is also an attractive platform with which to meet the needs of marina expansion through the development of state-owned real estate. Invest in Greece Agency: Tourism – Marinas; Greek National Tourism Organisation: Marinas – Moorings

Talking Business in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   On May 11, the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises held its annual general assembly. Addressing the event, chairman Dimitris Daskalopoulos highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship in today’s times of economic uncertainty. Knowledge- and investment-based entrepreneurship holds the key to creative adaptation and exit from the dire economic situation which is holding the economy back, he said. In his speech, Minister of Economy and Finance Yannis Papathanassiou (photo) expressed the hope that economic climate would be reverted even by 2009. He further noted that projections which point to negative growth dismiss a recent package of measures, aiming at boosting the construction sector, the car market and employment. Addressing the 2nd annual Greek Public Private Partnerships (PPP) Market Forum yesterday, Papathanassiou linked the government’s structural reform programme to the PPPs, pledging to provide a strong impetus for such partnerships, which has so far proven effective and “the modern way of financing infrastructure projects.”

A Guide to Quirky Athens

Times Online (30.1.2009): “”The Greek capital is the latest destination in our regular series that looks at the surprising side of business cities”  Since the Olympic Games returned to Athens in the year 2004, the Greek capital has become an increasingly popular destination for conferences. The International Congress and Convention Association rank the city as the 20th most popular in the world, with conference organisers drawn by newly modernised infrastructure, good hotels, rich history and a pleasant climate. The article discusses shopping, nightlife, travel, and accommodation options in the city which are “quirky” or off the beaten track. Information: Breathtaking Athens – The official city of Athens visitors’ website

Greek President at the European Academy of Marketing

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Marketing professor at Athens University of Economics and Business, Giorgos Avlonitis was elected president of the European Academy of Marketing for the biennium 2008-2010. The European Academy of Marketing is considered a prestigious academic network for marketing research and teaching. The institute counts more than 1,000 members and is highly active in the United States, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Oceania, and Israel. George Avlonitis is  Professor of Marketing at the Department of Marketing and Communication, and past president of the Greek Marketing Academy.  

Economic Cooperation Greece – Serbia

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)      Ushering a new period of economic cooperation between Greece and Serbia, Foreign Affairs and Economy and Finance Ministries have agreed that Greece should contribute to the financing of the “Corridor 10” (as part of the Pan European Corridors) linking Thessaloniki to Belgrade and Salzburg. The estimated cost of the Corridor’s part in Serbia is €475 million, and Greece’s participation amounts to €100 million. The visit’s itinerary included a business meeting hosted by the Greek Serbian Business Council on October 9, during which, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Petros Doukas noted that Greek investments in Serbia have exceeded €2.5 billion to date and that more than 27,000 Serbians are employed in Greek enterprises. The project for Greece’s participation in the Corridor 10’s construction is financed by the Hellenic Plan for the Economic Reconstruction of the Balkans (HiPERB). European Economic and Social Committee: Pan European Corridors (2003); Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Greece-Serbia Bilateral Relations (Economic and trade relations/development cooperation) & Economic Diplomacy

Doing Business in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   According to the Doing Business 2009 Report, Greece has improved its overall Ease of Business index, moving up to rank 96 (from 106 in 2008). Greece cut the minimum capital requirement to start a business by 80%, reduced capital tax and made publication of company statutes quicker. It also introduced electronic payment of social security tax, and passed a new bankruptcy law that is expected to allow more companies in distress to emerge as going concerns. Finally, Greece strengthened director accountability by making it easier for shareholders to sue directors for damages caused by related-party transactions.  The Doing Business Report, published by the World Bank Group, is tracking reforms in 181 economies. Greece’s areas of reform were: Starting a Business, Protecting Investors, Paying Taxes, Closing a Business  InvestInGreece Agency: www.investingreece.gov.gr; Competitive Greece: Surveys on Competitiveness;  Ministry of Economy &  Finance: Tax Reform & Investment Incentives Law  Greek News Agenda: The Greek Economy-Pointers; Secretariat General of Information: About Brand Greece- A New Economic Policy: creating a favorable environment for investment  Secretariat General of Information: World Media on Greece – Special Reports