The first business forum ‘EAEU–Greece: A New Bridge for Cooperation and Development’, which was held as part of the TIF-Helexpo 2017 exhibition, has concluded in Thessaloniki (Greece).

“The current mutual trade volume of USD 4.6 billion between EAEU countries and Greece is clearly not consistent with the scale of our close economic ties over many years. It can and should be more”, Greek Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Georgios Katrougalos said opening the forum’s plenary session.

More than 200 people took part in the event: representatives of major business associations, leading companies from EAEU countries as well as delegations from the governments of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. The participants shared ideas for cooperation in such sectors of the economy as transport, agriculture, and trade.

“I think this is a very timely forum, when both Greece and the economies of our five countries are entering a phase of economic growth. We are confident that a meeting between the representatives of business and business associations from not just two but six countries can give a boost to integration and the creation of standards for business processes and economic cooperation between them”, Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission Collegium Tigran Sargsyan said.

Turnover between EAEU member states and Greece amounted to roughly USD 4.6 billion in 2016. However, growth has already been seen in mutual trade in the first half of 2017 (46.6% compared with the same period last year). The participants spoke confidently about how there is currently enormous potential for increasing trade and building trade and economic ties between the EAEU and Greece.

Developing cooperation and building intercountry cooperative chains with the subsequent implementation of joint cooperative projects is a key strategic area for realizing this potential today.

Member of the Collegium (Minister) for Industry and the Agro-Industrial Complex of the Eurasian Economic Commission Sergei Sidorsky said: “There are already some 200 companies with Greek capital working on the territory of the Eurasian

Economic Union. Of course, such numbers could be increased several times over thanks to the efforts and existing potential for developing cooperation. We view high-tech sectors of industry and agribusiness among the most promising areas for the development of cooperation with Greece above all else, he said. We invite Greek companies to take part in joint projects in the engineering, shipbuilding, light, food, and other industries”, he said.

The Forum in Thessaloniki is the first step towards realizing the provisions of the Joint Declaration on Cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Government of the Hellenic Republic dated 24 June 2017 with the aim of developing a dialogue between EAEU countries and Greece in the economic sector. The participants believe these events will help take the dialogue between Greece and the EAEU to a fundamentally new, higher level and to achieve results in expanding economic cooperation and trade relations.

“I am very pleased that the discussion on issues concerning European and Eurasian integration that began on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg was continued during the Business Forum ‘EAEU–Greece: A New Bridge for Cooperation and Development’ in Thessaloniki. The agreement between the Roscongress Foundation and the Greek company TIF-Helexpo signed at SPIEF 2017 contributed to the high level of today’s event. We hope that our Greek partners will take advantage of the Foundation’s invitation and that we will be able to welcome officials and representatives from the Greek business community again at SPIEF 2018”, Roscongress Foundation Director Alexander Stuglev said.

Following the event, Adviser to the Russian President Anton Kobyakov and Adviser to the Greek Prime Minister Dimitrios Velanis discussed prospects for developing bilateral cooperation and further developing the dialogue between the EU and the EAEU. They also outlined plans for Greek business representatives to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on 24–26 May 2018.

The Forum in Thessaloniki was organized by the Eurasian Economic Commission, the Roscongress Foundation, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Enterprise Greece, and Helexpo. The event was held with the support of the Greek Ministry of Economy and Development.

The Roscongress Foundation is a major organizer of convention and exhibition events.

The Roscongress Foundation was founded in 2007 to develop Russia’s economic potential and strengthen the country’s image by organizing congresses and exhibitions with an economic and social focus. The Foundation develops the substantive content for these events, and provides companies with advice, information, and expert guidance, as well as offering comprehensive evaluation, analysis, and coverage of the Russian and global economic agenda.

Today, its annual programme includes events held from Montevideo to Vladivostok, offering an opportunity to bring together global business leaders, experts, the media, and government officials in one place, creating favourable conditions for dialogue and the promotion of new ideas and projects, and assisting in the creation of social enterprise and charity projects.

www.roscongress.org

29/09/2017 – 12:53

Over 260,000 visitors graced the 82nd TIF, which ended yesterday, renewing its appointment for September 2018.

The 82nd TIF ended in the most impressive way, as the concert given by Sakis Rouvas, dedicated to the ‘ORAMA ELPIDAS’ Association and the Volunteer Bone Marrow Donors, brought together thousands of people of all ages, achieving a record attendance number.

More specifically, 263,724 individuals (as compared to 210,081 last year) went through the gates of the Fair from 9 to 17 September and visited the largest TIF of the last decade.

The enormous number of visitors were met by 1,500 exhibitors and the highly successful participation of China, which set the bar high for the institution of the Honoured Country with 167 exhibition participations and over 400 individuals as part of the official delegation.

An intensely business-oriented character and increased internationalisation were the dominant elements of the ‘personality’ of the 82nd TIF.

The individual sections of the Fair covered a broad range of interests, from education, vehicles and energy to beauty, gastronomy and e-gaming, with numerous actions and events.

This year, the 82nd TIF demonstrably supported the ‘ORAMA ELPIDAS’ Association, boosting its work so that no person and no child is at risk, unable to find a compatible transplant.

The Honoured Country at the 83rd TIF of 2018 will be the USA, with the requirements for a highly successful participation already set.

The administration and employees of TIF-Helexpo extend their warmest thanks to the people for their love for the Fair, which is improving every year and laying a solid foundation for the growth of the national exhibition agency.

A host of sponsors and associates supported the 82nd TIF:

QATAR, the Official Air Carrier of the 82nd TIF, the Public Power Corporation (DEI), the National Bank of Greece, Gianniris S.A., with Peugeot being the Official Car of the 82nd TIF, Nestle Hellas, Malamatina, the concert sponsor, the ‘Limousines-Greece VIP Service’ company, the concert Transport Sponsor, the ‘Mediterranean’ & ‘Grand Hotel Palace’ hotels of the Luxury Hotels Group, the Official Hotels of the concerts, the Samiotakis company, the catering sponsor of the concerts, Singular Logic, MLS and Icap and the Communication Sponsors.

19/09/2017 – 11:26

Intensely business-oriented and fully international, with China as the Honoured Country, and 1,500 exhibitors as opposed to 1,015 at last year’s event, with its exhibition premises filled to capacity and with a festive atmosphere, the 82nd TIF event opens on 9 September 2017 and will last until the 17th of the same month. This year’s event is to be the largest in the last decade, with its qualitative and quantitative scale significantly enhanced.

There are a total of 18 international country participants, namely: China, Cyprus, Slovakia, Poland, Luxembourg, South Africa, Armena, Indonesia, FYR of Macedonia, Bulgaria, India, Ukraine, Serbia, Rusia, Turkey, Italy, Egypt and Iran.

There are 167 participating businesses from China, of which seven are globally active, namely: China Cosco Shipping Corporation, China Development Bank, Shehua Group Corporation Limited, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, Zhongxing Tele-communication Equipment Corporation, State Grid Corporation of China and Air China. Among Chinese participants, ZTE stands out in the Telecommunication sector, as well as 23 high tech companies from the region of Shanghai. In the context of the Chinese participation, special events are to be hosted, such as the Greek-Chinese Cooperation Forum, titled: “Investment Opportunities in South-eastern Europe: Trends and Challenges in the Energy Sector”, co-organised by PPC SA Hellas (Public Power Corporation – DEI) and ΙΕΝΕ (The Institute of Energy for South-East Europe) and the day-meeting organised by the Greek-Chinese Cooperation Forum titled: “New Silk Road”, jointly organised by the Athenian-Macedonian Press Agency (APE-MPE), under the auspices of the President of the Republic, Mr Prokopis Pavlopoulos. Another forum titled: “A New Bridge for Cooperation & Development” is co-organised by the ‘Enterprise Greece’

Organisation, the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Roscongress Foundation.

Beyond international participants, the 82nd TIF will be dynamically attended by 43 Chambers from around Greece, with 360 enterprises. Special participants at this year’s TIF are going to be the Professional Chambers of Thessaloniki, of Serres and – for the first time – the Chamber of Kozani. Special sections of the 82nd TIF event cover a wide range of interests, from education and automobiles to energy and beauty, gastronomy, innovation, e-gaming, etc., with numerous actions and events.

A multi-faceted event that combines recreational, cultural and political aspects is how TIF was characterised at today’s Press Conference by the President of TIF-HELEXPO, Mr Tassos Tzikas, who underlined that the 82nd event will be the best of the last ten years, with exhibitors’ numbers increased by 50%, exhibition premises full to capacity and China as the Honoured Country. “China might be the Honoured Country, but the honour is ours”, Mr Tzikas said, expressing the vision of the exhibition agency that wants Thessaloniki to become an exhibition hub for Chinese products in Europe. “The 82nd TIF will be a landmark, signifying the beginning of a new era, which will make the September Fair what it used to be in the past,” as the president underlined.

A message of help for Greece is sent by the significant participation of China in the 82nd TIF event, according to the Deputy Minister for the Interior (Macedonia-Thrace), Ms Maria Kollia-Tsaroucha. She also stressed that his year’s event marks the starting point towards prosperity and growth.

Chinese-Greek relations are entering a new phase, according to the Political Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Greece, Mr. Gao Wenqi, who also expressed his satisfaction for the reception to be extended to the Chinese by TIF-HELEXPO, with the city being decorated with thousands of Chinese lanterns around its streets. According to Mr Wenqi, the exhibition is going to be a major meeting with entrepreneurial, economic and cultural activities and will provide the ultimate promotion to the mutually beneficial cooperation of the two countries.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of TIF-HELEXPO, Mr Kyriakos Pozrikidis, stated that the official state participant from

China comprises more than 400 persons, representing 167 businesses, organisations, regions and agencies that represent significant sectors of the Chinese economy. Indeed, Mr Pozrikidis expressed the wish that the Chinese lanterns already decorating the central streets of the city, which, according to Chinese tradition symbolise good luck and prosperity, may bring good luck to the 82nd TIF.

Thessalonians are invited to become informed and register as volunteer bone marrow donors by the Scientific Director of the ‘Orama Elpidos’ Association, Mr Stelios Grafakos, who estimated that volunteers will be far exceed the 900 who registered at last year’s event. Mr Grafakos thanked TIF-HELEXPO for the support it extends to the Association’s aims.

Peugeot cars are the official cars of the 82nd TIF event, as underlined by the CEO of the auto dealer Gianniris SA, Mr Michalis Gianniris, who stressed that it is not a coincidence that Jeep chose to present the new Jeep Compass model for the first time in Greece at this year’s TIF event.

In turn, Nestle Hellas Corporate Affairs Head, Ms Angeliki Papadopoulou, underlined that TIF unites people, businesses, and cultures and referred to the “Frappé Museum powered by Nestle”, which is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the invention of frappé coffee on TIF premises.

“The city is celebrating and this is the message”, according to the Deputy General Director of TIF-HELEXPO, Mr Alexis Tsaxirlis, who confirmed that everything will be ready in time and the exhibition result will reflect the efforts made by the company.

Finally, the Messenger of the ‘Elpida’ Association of Friends of Children with Cancer and the ‘Orama Elpidas’ Association, Mr Sakis Rouvas, said in his statement that he is moved to be at a TIF event 26 years after he first met its audience at the Song Festival, stressing that this time, the link connecting him with the Fair and Thessaloniki is the mission of the ‘Orama Elpidas’ Association. “I am asking you to send an invitation, all together, a strong message of hope, to become, all of us, messengers of life”, he said, thanking TIF-HELEXPO for supporting the aims of the association. “Let us break one more record at this TIF event”, Mr Rouvas added.

A major celebration

As far as recreation and entertainment is concerned, the 82nd TIF event will be hosting daily concerts by top singers of Greek music and cultural happenings, while it will also host the thematic park titled ‘The Secret Worlds of Evgenios Trivizas’, the ‘Frappé Museum’, in cooperation with Nestle, Cheapart and the reconstruction of the major city fire of 1917. In the context of this year’s event, the Automobile Club of Thessaloniki is organising an anniversary event, namely the 50th TIF Rally.

This year, TIF-HELEXPO joins forces witht the Bone Marrow Bank of ‘Orama Elpidas’ Volunteer Donors of Bone Marrow, sending a social solidarity message. Indeed, the Messenger of the ‘Elpida’ Association of Friends of Children with Cancer and the ‘Orama Elpidas’ Association, Mr. Sakis Rouvas, will be performing at the culminating music event of 17 September, a concert dedicated to volunteer donors of bone marrow.

General Admission tickets to the Fair will be 5 Euros, tickets for families with many children and the Disabled will be 3 Euros (children under 3 years of age will be admitted free of charge), a 4-member family ticket will cost 15 Euros, while people with motor disabilities will be admitted free of charge. The Opening Hours of the 82nd TIF are as follows: Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00 and weekdays from 16:00 to 22:00.

The 82nd TIF event is supported by numerous sponsors and associates:

The ‘Orama Elpidas’ Association; QATAR Airlines, the official air transporter for the 82nd TIF event; PPC (DEI), the National Bank,Gianniris SA; Peugeot, its cars being the official cars of the 82nd TIF event; Nestle Hellas; Malamatina, the concert sponsor; the “Limo Greece Vips” Company, Sponsor for concert transportation; Μediterranean Hotel & Grand Hotel Palace of the Luxury Hotels Group, Official Hotels of the concerts; Samiotakis Company, sponsor of concert catering; Singular Logic, MLS and Icap, Μοngo Chinese restaurant, Mr Li Feng Ping, the President of the Association of Chinese in Greece and the Communications Sponsors.

08/09/2017 – 12:06