After two days of informative sessions, intensive networking, and strong interaction between the Greek and Arab participants, the “12th Arab-Hellenic Economic Forum” under the theme “Greece & the Arab World: Embracing Change, concluded its works on December 14th with great success.
On the morning of December 13th, Rashad Mabger, Secretary General of the Chamber, opened the first day of the Forum, followed by the welcoming addresses by Harris Geronikolas, Chairman of the BoD, and Suheil Sabbagh, Vice President, Arab-Hellenic Chamber, and Prof. Dr. Khaled Hanafy, Secretary General, Union of Arab Chambers. Then the addresses by the guest speakers were delivered: H.E. Wesam Eledrissi, Undersecretary of Diwan Affairs and Maritime Transport of Libya, presented Libya’s steps of progress and readiness for cooperation in the maritime field, and H.E. Kostas Skrekas, Minister of Development of Greece, confirmed Greece’s status as an agent and proponent for peace in the Eastern Mediterranean and then highlighted Greece’s advances in several business sectors that can be useful for the Arab audience.
Then the sessions started on “Electrical Connectivity, Renewable Energy and Environment,” “Construction Projects, Modernization of Infrastructure and Building Material,” the “Pharmaceutical Industry” and the “Food and Organic Food Industries.” The high-level personalities who tackled the aforementioned issues and the interesting deliberations that followed attracted the attention of the audience, created dialogue and assisted in the networking between the Arab and Greek sides.
The morning of the second day, the “3rd Greece & the GCC Countries Business Gathering” provided the opportunity for the audience to hear from experts and high-ranking officials from both Greece and most GCC Countries on their national visions, their goals, their implementations, and the projects that offer opportunities for participation to Greek businesses. They also referred to the cooperation projects that are underway between Greece and some Arab countries, as well as the investment opportunities offered by both sides.
The afternoon of the second day included the 1st Chambers’ Roundtable among the Greek and the visiting Arab Presidents of Chambers and their Federations. This was the first and much-welcome initiative of the Arab-Hellenic Chamber that brought these important institutions center-stage and sparked an institutional dialogue that could benefit both sides. All the speakers and charismatic moderators are included in the accompanying list.
On the side of all these sessions, the Greek and Arab participants, approximately 135 and 175 respectively, were able to network with each other and gain a wealth of contacts and information, and exchange views and ideas, all with the help of the Chamber’s personnel.
The Arab-Hellenic Chamber would like to personally thank all the speakers, moderators, participants, and attendees of its two-day events, for the fruitful deliberations and interaction, as well as thank the member companies who generously offered their contributions and the organizations that granted their auspices. It would also like to reiterate its commitment to offering high-standard events that constitute open platforms for discussions, with the aim of promoting prosperity for both sides.
