The Ambassador of Australia to Greece Ms Jenny Bloomfield celebrated the first year of the foundation of the Hellenic Australian Business Council (HABC) by hosting an anniversary dinner at her ambassadorial residency. The dinner was attended by the board of directors of HABC, by other business leaders and by a number of Greek Ministers, namely the Minister of Development and Competition Mr Costis Hatzidakis, the Deputy Minister for Reform Ms Evi Christofilopoulou, and the Deputy Minister of Education Mr Konstantinos Gioulekas.
Ms Bloomfield in her welcoming speech stated that HABC is the first organised attempt to link in trading and economic co-operation two traditionally friendly countries such as Australia and Greece, and all this in the middle of an economic crisis. She praised the organisation for its achievements in its first year and called upon the business community and the friends of the two countries to support the Hellenic Australian Business Council and to take advantage of its existence.
From the Greek side, Mr Costis Hatzidakis, Minister for Development and Competition, welcomed the presence and the work of HABC and highlighted its importance in regards to strengthening the trading and investment relationship that already exists between Australia and Greece.
The Hellenic Australian Business Council (HABC) was founded last June in Athens Greece, and aims to maximise the significant trade and investment opportunities that exist between Greece and Australia. It works in close cooperation with the Hellenic Australian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) and other business bodies in Australia.
It is a non-profit organisation in the form of an association located in Athens with branches in Thessaloniki and Iraklio. The Council offers institutional, business and commercial network-building between Australia and Greece.