Koumentakis & Associates Law Firm was appointed as the Legal Advisor of the Greek – Chinese Association For The Promotion Of Investments And Partnerships (EKEPES).
In a recent event held in Thessaloniki, Mr. Dimitris Samaras, President of EKEPES, announced the establishment of the Association with the aim of developing partnerships in many areas, mainly in tourism, culture, education, trade, agri-food sector and infrastructure. As Mr. Samaras noted, “whereas Chinese interest has so far been centered on so-called classic trade, it is now expanding both in tourist investment and infrastructure, such as in airports and ports, as well as in industry and commerce, tourism and infrastructure”.
EKEPES Role
EKEPES is expected to play a strong role in the “marriage” of Greek-Chinese efforts and, in this direction, organizes, among other, meetings in Thessaloniki and throughout Northern Greece, while it plans meetings in Athens with the competent ministers and with financial institutions.
Additionally to the efforts made in strengthening the Greek-Chinese business, cultural, tourist and educational ties are, it is expected that the decision of the TIF-Helexpo for Chine to be the Honored Country at the TIF in 2017 applies. In this context, the Association intends to bring many Chinese businessmen as exhibitors to the General Exhibition of September, filling yet another stand apart from China’s (as the honored country) established stand.
Brilliant Prospects
The Chinese entrepreneur and Vice-President of the Greek-Chinese Association for the Promotion of Investments and Partnerships, Mrs. Betty Xu, appeared optimistic about the future of bilateral relations. As a lover of Greece, she believes that the bilateral relations of the next decade will produce much more fruitful results, while the five-year experience of her own company in Greece has been revealed. “Greek-Chinese cooperation is growing rapidly in a number of areas, demonstrating a brilliant prospect” the young entrepreneur said, emphasizing that “there are many Chinese people who want to invest in Greece”.
It is to be noted that distinguished politicians and entrepreneurs from the sectors of tourism, industry, agribusiness, energy, transport and commerce have already demonstrated their support for the Greek-Chinese Association. Among other things, the chairman of the Exporters’ Association of Northern Greece, Mr. Kyriakos Loufakis stressed that both the geographical position and the favorable times can offer significant benefits to Thessaloniki and Northern Greece. Alexandros Thanos, representative of the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Administrative Reconstruction, Maria Kollia-Tsaroucha, vice-governor of Tourism and Culture of Central Macedonia, and the Deputy Minister of Tourism and International Relations, Spyros Pegas, expressed their support for the new project.
