In Brief
Gov’t approves Thessaloniki bid for World Expo The government yesterday approved a proposal for Thessaloniki to bid to host the World Expo 2007-2008 at a ministerial meeting chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis. Economy Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said a successful candidacy would project the city internationally but was a difficult endeavor that required organization, systematic work and planning. Meanwhile, Environment and Public Works Minister Vasso Papandreou announced that the French company Bouygues-led consortium which has been declared winner in the tender to build Thessaloniki’s metropolitan railway, has been given a nine-month deadline extension to finalize the financial scheme for the project. In another development, the commercial counselors of Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Slovenia, Taiwan, Ireland, FYROM and Peru are scheduled to meet representatives of 45 enterprises in Thessaloniki tomorrow for a briefing on business opportunities. The event, organized by the Northern Greece Exporters Association, will take place at the CEDEFOP auditorium from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Study lists firms and managers with best reputations The 10 firms with the best reputation according to Greek public opinion in 2002 (in alphabetical order) are AB Vassilopoulos, Coca-Cola, CosmOTE, Delta dairies, EFG Eurobank, FAGE, Goody’s, InterAmerican, Intracom and Panafon (Vodafone), according to the results of a study presented by Tradelink Reputation Management yesterday. In the same study, opinion leaders gave preference to Athenian Breweries, Alpha Bank, CosmOTE, Delta dairies, EFG Eurobank, FAGE, Germanos, Hellenic Bottling Company, Panafon (Vodafone) and Titan Cement. The factors valued most by public opinion are quality, service, prices and reliability. Opinion leaders rate most highly quality, service, reliability, familiarity of name, financial health, prospects and personnel. The 10 best managers according to public opinion (again, in alphabetical order) are Yianna Angelopoulos -Daskalaki, Giorgos Apostolopoulos,Yiannis Costopoulos, Dimitris Kontominas, Minos Kyriakou, Christos Lambrakis, Yiannis Latsis, Yiannis Philippou, Pavlos Yiannakopoulos and Vardis Vardinoyiannis. Mutual funds The value of Greek mutual fund assets at the end of March stood at 23.86 billion euros, down 2.33 percent from February, according to the Union of Institutional Investors. Funds investing in domestic stocks and bonds were all down, but those investing in foreign markets all made gains. Fuel prices The Development Ministry is conducting inspections in the fuels market to counter profiteering which is not due to shortages but to developments in the international price of oil, officials said yesterday. A draft bill on the distribution of petroleum products is due in Parliament this week. Metallon Helexpo is hosting the second international exhibition of metal processing materials, equipment, tools and automation, Metallon, in Thessaloniki from May 16 to 19. The exhibition will only be open to trade visitors. The exhibition will be accompanied by a seminar on metal processing, quality control and certification, a briefing on the EU’s Eureka initiative and reports by academics.
