In a much smaller contingent this year, the Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) will be joined by three Australian companies to hold a presence at the Thessaloniki International Trade Festival.

Two companies are back on board – ITM Freight and migration lawyers Stojanovic and Associates – but the economic atmosphere of Greece and the slow political process in trying to fix it has scared off many companies.

After organising the first ever Australian contingent last year, HACCI has seen a steep drop in interest, with only two of the nine companies last year jumping on board again.

Director of trade for HACCI, George Iliopoulos, says the drop is a direct reaction to the economic situation of Greece and budgetary constraints.

“I think people are waiting,” Mr Iliopoulos says.

“There are still big opportunities in Greece, in real estate, in business, however, people from the diaspora are still waiting to see thing stabilised.

“What they’re saying is ‘I’ll give it another year and see how things pan out and then we’ll be ready’.”

A company that was promising to join the Australian contingent from last year was shoemakers UGG, but once again they’ve declined after not allocating enough funds to the fair.

“We spoke to UGG, obviously what they do these companies, they have budget allocated for various events and Greece wasn’t in it for 2014,” Mr Iliopoulos says.

“Their aim is for 2015.”

Mr Iliopoulos says UGG is very keen to explore options in Greece, after they’ve seen demand grow in the country.

A new company launching its international interest via the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair is Mini Moke, the yellow two-seater open air cars commonly found in seaside tourist locations.

Greek Australian Jim Markos holds the global rights for the cars (now manufactured in China) and hopes to bring the car to Europe.

“He’s sent a vehicle to Thessaloniki, so it’s going to be on display there,” Mr Iliopoulos says.

“Already people there are waiting to meet him, from car rental companies to hotels, and there will be a meeting with the minister of tourism, they want to talk to him.”

In his trip to the fair, Mr Iliopoulos will be meeting with a number of government figures to increase trade ties.

“I’m catching up with the general secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, I’m going to meet the new Australian ambassador in Greece who’s just taken over
Jenny Bloomfield’s position, John Griffin, and I’ll be meeting the minister for Thessaloniki and Macedonia and Thrace,” he says.

Although they can’t talk about policy issues like working visas, HACCI are keen to pose an increase in trade options for the two countries.

“Trade figures coming out of Greece are very low when you consider there’s 600,000 Greek Australians,” Mr Iliopoulos says.

“We need to improve that.”

The Thessaloniki International Fair is the only trade and consumer exhibition in Greece and attracts more than 800 exhibitors. It will take place over nine days from September 6 to September 14 in Thessaloniki.

The fair also coincides with the celebration of the 30 year anniversary between the sister cities, Melbourne and Thessaloniki.