Hellenic Trade and Culture event to woo US investors
CHICAGO (PRNewswire) – The World Council of Hellenes, in conjunction with the World Trade Center Chicago, is coordinating Hellenic Trade and Culture 2001, the first-ever event of its kind, in Chicago November 3-6. The multi-day event will feature two days of pre-arranged business-to-business meetings strategically matching US and Greek companies and a variety of cultural activities and exhibits. Hellenic Trade and Culture 2001 aims to enhance trade relations between Chicago, the Midwest and Greece, and to promote Greek culture and provide new international investment opportunities in Greece’s strong economy. With the Athens 2004 Olympic Games only a few years away, Greece wants to reach out to the United States and the rest of the world through its rich culture and burgeoning economy, commented Chicago native Andrew Athens, president of the World Council of Hellenes and primary sponsor and organizer of the event. From art to business, food to science, Hellenic Trade and Culture 2001 participants and the public will all learn, enjoy and benefit from the experience. Complementing the business meetings are programs showcasing potential joint venture opportunities at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and an investment seminar for US multinational firms seeking opportunities in Greece. Time and time again, strategically paired business-to-business meetings between large groups of US and foreign businesses prove to be an efficient and effective way of establishing relationships and uncovering new business opportunities, said Neil F. Hartigan, chairman of the World Trade Center Chicago. On Saturday, November 3 at 6.00 p.m. at the Fairmont Hotel, a host of Greek ambassadors and dignitaries and members of the United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC) will gather at the UHAC Annual Banquet to pay tribute to the Olympic Truce – the ancient practice of ceasing all hostilities during the Olympic Games. Greek Ambassador Stavros Lamberinides, director of the Olympic Truce Foundation Center, a program of the International Olympic Committee, will be the event’s keynote speaker. Joining him will be Greek Minister of Culture Evangelos Venizelos and Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Even while public enterprises are off-loaded onto the private sector, the state plans to maintain a golden share, giving it a significant role in strategic decision-making, Christodoulakis pointed out.
