ACTIVE GREECE 2016 - EXPORT LEADERS
President of the Hellenic Chinese Chamber
Constantine Yannidis The Hellenic Chinese business collaboration will be more fruitfull in the near future THE HELLENIC CHINESE CHAMBER (HCC) is an institutional, non-governmental, non-profit, membership association for Greek corporations and individual entrepreneurs engaged in business affairs with People’s Republic of China, and Chinese corporations engaged in business affairs with Greece. Short info about the Chamber ● Was set up in 1995 ● Operates under Presidential Decree (576/27-7-95) ● Is widely recognized and respected at the highest level of both Greek and Chinese governments Mission To actively and continuously support the development of business and economic relations between Greece and China so that in the longrun, China becomes in the worldwide scene one of Greece’s major business and economic partners. Objectives ● To stimulate and support trade in goods and services, investment and technology transfer between Greece and China ● To promote the commercial and investment environment of Greece to the Chinese business community and opinion leaders ● To provide practical, professional and value added services to the Greek and Chinese corporations that will essentially support their efforts in developing business in China and Greece respectively ● To become the voice of the Greek business community to both Greek and Chinese governments through direct advocacy and well written and researched papers of both general and specific issues on Greek - Chinese matters Activities The Hellenic Chinese Chamber, in its continuous effort to play a central role in the development of business and economic relations between Greece and China, systematically takes initiatives and implements the following actions: ● Organize business and trade missions to China ● Host high-ranked Chinese governmental and business delegations in Greece and facilitate the development of the appropriate contacts ● Support and participate in important exhibition fairs, business forums, conferences,
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workshops and seminars ● Support the publication of books, journals and newsletters China is one of the largest investors in Greece, and has poured money into the country at a time when other investors balked. Beijing wants Greece to be its gateway to Europe’s marketplaces. Over the last five years, China has been pouring money into the Eurozone’s most troubled economy at a time when most other investors have stayed away. As a businessman, I can say that there are three ways to make money from China’s economic upswing. You can attract investment so as to secure capital, you can look for cheap suppliers or you can turn to the Chinese market itself. The third option of course involves the greatest risk and thus also requires the most courage. But it will get you the highest returns. More than 1,000 Greek companies have established trade ties with China, mostly in the form of imports from the vast Asian country. But although the number of companies that have entered the Chinese market does not exceed 100, their performance is quite striking. These include S&B Industrial Minerals SA, jewelry and fashion brand Folli Follie, plastics company Plastika Kritis SA, FHL Kyriakidis Marbles and Granites, Coco-Mat mattresses, beauty product company Apivita, Kleeman elevators, Iktinos marble industry etc. Dozens more, including food and wine producers Tyras, Minerva, Ktima Lazaridis, Kriton Artos and Tsantalis, have also established their presence in the Chinese market. Their record so far is very positive. As President at Vitex S.A. the biggest purely Greek coloring (chemical) industry and president of the Hellenic Chinese Chamber, I can say that opportunities are to be found in all sectors: marble, shipyards, mining and mineral processing, jewelry, winemaking, canning, beekeeping, food processing, the export of agricultural goods (particularly olive oil), tourism, education and energy management. The opportunity is here and the relations between Greece and China are closer than ever. Chinese are our friends and collaborators through this difficult situation for our country and people. Let’s make this collaboration and friendship to RISE UP!!!