On April 07, 2021, the Arab – Hellenic Chamber, organized and convened, with the support of the Union of Arab Chambers, the third online event of this year, “Greece – North Africa e-Business Gathering”, introducing five Arab countries, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia along with Greece.
The event’s program started with an introduction by Rashad Mabger, Secretary General, and a welcoming speech by Harris Geronikolas, the President of the Arab-Hellenic Chamber. Then the guest of honour, Harry Theoharis, Minister of Tourism of Greece, delivered a speech welcoming the participants and touched upon prospects for cooperation between Greece and North African countries and the possibilities of activating tourism between the two sides.
The first session dedicated to Algeria began with a word of greeting from Amira Aouachria Zemoura, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Algeria in Greece, followed by presentation by Dr. Asma Moulay, Director of Communication and Cooperation at the Ministry of Tourism, Handicraft and Family Labour, and a speech by Samira Arabe, Professional in Education and Vocational Training Executive at the Ministry of Professional Training and Education. The session was presented and moderated by Dr. Saleh Jallad, Board Member at the Arab Hellenic Chamber, Businessman, Economist & Publisher MEES & Financial Consultant, Consolidated Contractors Co. (C.C.C.)
The second session on Egypt started with a greeting from Ismail Khairat, Ambassador of Egypt in Greece. The first speech was delivered by Dr. Hany Barakat, Board Member & Executive Director, EGESOQuality S.A.E. and former First Undersecretary at the Ministry of Trade & Industry in Egypt, and subsequently, there was a presentation by Periklis Davanelos, First Counsellor for Economic & Commercial Affairs at the Embassy of Greece in Cairo. The session was presented and moderated by Manal Abdeltawab, Minister Plenipotentiary and Head of Commercial Dept. at the Embassy of Egypt in Athens.
Before long, a session on Libya began, in which speeches were delivered by Mohamed A. Raied, Chairman BoD at the Libyan General Union of Chambers of Commerce (GUCC), Mohamed Alsafi, Research Analyst with World Bank Group (WBG) & Co founder, Ideas Drivers NGO, and Dr. Gamal Allamoushi, Consultant at the Libyan Ministry of Economy & Trade. Rashad Mabger presented and moderated the session.
Then the session on Morocco began with a greeting by Khalid Sebti, Chargé d ’Affaires at the Embassy of Morocco in Greece, followed by speeches from Lahoucine Alayoua, Vice President at the Federation of Moroccan Chambers of Commerce, Industry & Services (FCMCI), Badr Alioua, CEO of Wafasalaf Bank, & President of the International Committee, General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), Ioannis Pappas, First Counsellor for Economic & Commercial Affairs at the Embassy of Greece in Rabat and then Takis Kakayannis, President of the Greek community in Morocco. The session was presented and moderated by Atika Karom, Counsellor at the Embassy of Morocco in Greece.
The session on Tunisia began with a word of welcome from Dr. Lassaad M’hirsi, Ambassador of Tunisia in Greece, followed by a speech by Dr. Nejia Ben Hellal, Founder of Universal College & President of the Tunisian Business Women League, and a presentation by George Sakoufakis, Head of Commercial Office at the Embassy of Greece in Tunis. The session was presented and moderated by Manel Chamtouri, Counsellor at the Embassy of Tunisia in Athens.
The event concluded with a session on Greece that started with a speech by Angela Gerekou, President of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), followed by a speech by Ioannis Smyrlis, Secretary General for Int’l Economic Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Chairman of Enterprise Greece and finally a presentation by Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director of Communications & Marketing at the Athens International Airport S.A. The session was presented and moderated by Nicholas Vlachakis, Managing Director of NEOKEM S.A & Board Member at the Arab Hellenic Chamber.
To sum up the topics and deliberations the speakers have delivered, there was clear indication of interest to consolidate the existing friendly relations between Greece and the five Arab North African countries. The speakers touched upon a variety of issues vis-à-vis tourism and related sectors and services and indicated on the potential of other sectors, especially infrastructure projects, food-processing industry, building material and energy, along with other domains, as areas to be considered by the private sectors of both sides for exploring and indulging in communication and cooperation. In the case of Algeria, Libya and Morocco, there was a call by the speakers from these countries to initiate direct flights with these countries thus facilitating the movement and communication of businessmen and activating tourism between Greece and these countries. The online platform on which the event was convened also provided the Greek and Arab businessmen the opportunity to network via chatting or videocall.
The Arab – Hellenic Chamber seizes this opportunity to express its appreciation to all the participants and speakers in this e-meeting. We would like to thank the Union of Arab Chambers for its support and the Chamber’s companies sponsoring this event. This meeting has by all criteria, contributed to opening new channels of communication for businessmen from North Africa and Greece.
© The Hellenic Arab Chamber of Commerce and Development
Athens, April 09, 2021
