Athens, December 10, 2002

SAE President, Minister, Greek Trade Groups Launch Global Trade, Investment Project

SAE's International Trade and Investment Program (SAE BizNet) was presented today by SAE President, Mr. Andrew A. Athens, during a press interview that included the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ioannis Magriotis, and the General Secretary of Greeks Abroad, Mr. Dimitris Dollis.

The press conference was also attended by the President of the Association of Manufacturers of Northern Greece, Mr. Dimitris Simeonidis, the President of the Hellenic Center for Investment (ELKE), Mr. Stratos Papadimitriou, the 1st Vice President of the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Ioannis Dabassinas and the General Director and the General Secretary of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Alekos Lamnidis and Mr. Argyris Skondras, accordingly.

SAE President Mr. Andrew A. Athens emphasized that Omogeneia includes a very large number of successful and distinguished businessmen from all over the world. At the same time he mentioned that Hellene businessmen abroad should get acquainted with contemporary Greece and realize the opportunities that are offered for the joint ventures and investments.

"SAE's project will help link Hellene businessmen in the Diaspora with Greece within the context of Ecumenical Hellenism," said Mr. Athens. "In this effort we are asking for the support of all organizations and business agencies in Greece. We expect to ensure their active participation with the creation of a Pan-Hellenic Advisory Board."

"As a first step we have asked for the participation of organizations with which we had already worked with in the past, such are the Association of Industries of Northern Greece (SBBE), the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce, the Hellenic Center for Investment (ELKE), and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Thessaloniki. We will also invite other organizations and chambers of commerce to participate in this effort," Mr. Athens concluded.

Within this context, SAE has signed an agreement with the Association of Exporters of Northern Greece (SEVE), to provide technical support.

Deputy Minister Magriotis also stressed the importance of the project, which will bring important and successful Omogeneia businessmen into the Hellenic family.

"Our goal is to bond the Greek business community. Greece enjoys a healthy and steady economy highlighted by its dynamism and by its new role in the development of the Southern European countries.

"In our effort we would like the entire Greek business community to stand by us in order to bring Hellene businessmen abroad to Greece or develop cooperative agreements with Hellene businessmen from all over the world and especially the Balkans."

Finally, Mr. Magriotis mentioned that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue to support SAE within the business community in order to achieve successfully this ambitious goal.

The General Secretary for Greeks Abroad, Mr. Dimitris Dollis, focused on the work of the General Secretariat of Greeks Abroad as well as on the role of SAE.

"With the founding of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad, the General Secretariat of Greeks Abroad has expanded its activities. During the last 12 months, with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ioannis Magriotis and SAE President Mr. Andrew A. Athens, who is also a very successful businessman, we have promoted this program that will give us the opportunity to link Hellenes of third, fourth, and fifth generations who live and work in 140 countries," Mr. Dollis said.

The President of the Association of Industries of Northern Greece, Mr. Dimitris Simeonidis, the President of the Hellenic Center for Investment (ELKE), Mr. Stratos Papadimitriou, the 1st Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce of Thessaloniki, Mr. Ioannis Dabassinas, and the General Director and the General Secretary of the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Alekos Lamnidis and Mr. Argyris Skondras, spoke of the International Trade and Investment SAE Program and promised their full support.

The first goal of the International Trade and Investment SAE Program would be the creation of a database including data for businesses owned or managed by Hellenes abroad, as well as the investment activity of Hellene businessmen abroad. The gathering of data will be done in cooperation with the Commercial Attaches at Greek consulates, the Hellenic Chambers of Commerce Abroad and Marketing Companies, while the selection and assessment will be done through electronic programs.

During the first stage of the program, meetings of Hellene businessmen and investors will be arranged, probably beginning November 2003.

The Trade and Investment Program is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-General Secretariat of Greeks Abroad, and the Ministries of Economy and Development.