Thessaloniki’s mayor Yiannis Boutaris and the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace George Orfanos will visit Melbourne in November to pay tribute to the 30-year anniversary of the sister city union, while bringing interested business people with them to create stronger trade ties.

Over 30 years the two cities have had a warm relationship, paying tribute to the fact that many who once called Thessaloniki home are now Melbourne locals.

As the two most populated Greek speaking cities outside of Athens, the relationship has mostly been ornamental.

Yet over the last couple of years, the link has become more involved, with closer trade ties being put on the table, and while there have been some promising signs, the interest from both parties seems to be waning.

Australia sent its first contingent to the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair in 2013 with a group of ten companies making the trip.

This year, only three companies made the trip, with the Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry saying the economic climate in Greece is to blame.

Last month at the Fine Food Australia trade show in Melbourne, half the number of Greek exporters made the trip to try and rustle up distributor interest.

Mr Orfanos will be bringing a small contingent of business people from Thessaloniki’s Trade Fair, including members from the food and beverage, tourism, construction and marble industries to meet interested business people in Melbourne in special joint White Tower and HACCI events.

The exhibition will happen over two days on November 20 and 21 at the Melbourne Town Hall and will provide both sides a chance to exchange ideas.

White Tower president, Paul Mavroudis, says they are trying hard to increase ties, even if numbers are dwindling.

“Before, it was just the sister cities relationship, nothing happened, but now we’re trying to do something about it. To bring people together, to do something different,” he tells Neos Kosmos.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen but we’re trying hard.”

Mr Mavroudis was in Thessaloniki in August, and met with Mr Orfanos to discuss his trip and help things along.

Mr Orfanos told him that he’s very happy to be travelling to Melbourne and will be attending a number of events.

“They’re going to have some seminars in the Greek consulate and of course they’re going to be part of the Federation Square festival we have on 23 November,” Mr Mavroudis says.

Both Mr Orfanos and Mr Boutaris will be guests of honour at the huge annual festival.

The free event will showcase the best of Greece’s northern culture, with dancing groups, musical events and food stalls to entertain thousands of patrons.

Also planned is a special lecture on the ANZACS in Thessaloniki during World War I. Presented by historian Jim Claven and former MP John Pandazopoulos, the lecture will also include a photographic exhibition depicting WWI and WWII.

Before the dignitaries come, Greek Australian students will be able to take part in an excursion to Red Hill for a cultural day and picnic on November 1.

The goal is to give students the chance to experience the language, history and culture of Greece.

There will also be a dinner dance on November 22 to celebrate the anniversary, with ticket sales being donated to the Greek Centre of Contemporary Culture.

For more information on the events, visit thessaloniki.org.au