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Business giants with a leading role in the global market, such as Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Google and Cisco, were drawn by the 83rd TIF, in the framework of this year’s participation of the USA as the Honoured Country.
The 83rd TIF will be held from 8 to 16 September 2018 at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre. It was presented today in Athens to the representatives of the diplomatic corps to Greece.
As underlined by President of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Tassos Tzikas, “our national exhibition organisation is moving at an intense pace in preparation of September’s 2018 TIF, at which the USA will be this year’s Honoured Country. The 83rd TIF will be characterised by the extroversion that TIF-Helexpo has been systematically investing in over the last few years, through networking in the international exhibition industry”.
Mr Tzikas addressed the foreign diplomats and asked for their support, “so that our actions can take on a truly international character that would benefit the Greek economy and domestic businesses that have been coping with the entire spectrum of the crisis in recent years. Through cooperation, synergies, and the identification on your side of the needs of foreign markets, we can progress towards a better result, beneficial to both sides”.
The 83rd TIF was characterised as a landmark in Hellenic-American relations by US Ambassador Mr Geoffrey Pyatt, who noted that there are two strategic goals that are served by the US participation in this year’s TIF.
One goal, as he said, is “for us to celebrate the achievements of US technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship”, while at the
same time send the international message that Greece is back, it is open to investments and the economy is recovering.
The US Ambassador stressed that Greece is a critical pillar for stability in the region, while the US pavilion at the 83rd TIF will highlight technology, innovation, and activities of the new economy. In fact, he pointed out that the US will utilise the TIF in order to deepen their financial relations with the region of Northern Greece.
Ambassador Maria Diamantopoulou, Director of the Diplomatic Bureau of Alternate Foreign Minister Mr Georgios Katrougalos, conveyed the Minister’s greeting and stressed that economic diplomacy is a foundation in the materialisation of Greece’s foreign policy goals.
Greece’s economic policy, as she put it, follows the main axes of promoting Greek financial interests, supporting investment and entrepreneurial activity, strengthening exported products and services, as well as empowering and highlighting Greece’s strategic role as a hub in transports and energy pipelines.
US companies at the 83nd TIF
The arrival of business giants with a leading presence in the global market at the 83d TIF, led by companies such as Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Google, and Cisco, was announced by the President of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce Mr Simos Anastasopoulos. He noted that other powerful industrial groups, such as Lockheed Martin, as well as major Greek businesses, such as Intralot, have responded to the invitation to participate in the 83rd TIF, in the framework of the Honoured Country, while more exhibition participations are expected in the sectors of technology, food, pharmaceuticals, etc. Mr Anastasopoulos reflected on the recovery of the Chamber’s participation in the TIF after years of absence, and he underlined that an effort is being made to attract bilateral American Chambers from neighbouring Balkan countries to the Fair.
In turn, the CEO of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Kyriakos Pozrikidis, stated that the US businesses to participate in the 83rd TIF will come from the high tech, health, education and energy sectors. The US participation will be framed by a series of side events, which will include investment forums, as well as cultural and other events.
Lastly, Mr Pozrikidis estimated that the 83rd TIF will host more than 1400 exhibitors and he raised the bar as far as the number of visitors to the Fair is concerned to 290,000 people.