THE GREEK-AUSTRALIAN community’s two peak business groups have merged to form a united business-networking front.

“We have probably not done enough to try and capitalize or build some bridges to other English-speaking countries, which happen to have very vibrant and very strong populations of Greeks” Nick Mylonas – HACCI President

The Hellenic Business Forum and Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) will from now on be united under the HACCI banner.

The new-look HACCI was launched at Parliament House last week. Speaking with Neos Kosmos, incoming HACCI President Nick Mylonas outlined the Chamber’s goals for the immediate future.

The first step, he said, is to reestablish HACCI within the local community.

“We want to make sure that we rejuvenate and reengage with the business community, because the reality is that the two organisations have been focused on bringing the merger to fruition so much, that for the last couple of years they’ve really been dormant.”

During the period of the merger both organizations virtually ceased recruitment operations, which has seen numbers drop to below 500, though Mr Mylonas is confident that the situation can be rectified quickly. “If the other night is anything to go by, they’ll see that there’s a different smell, there’s a different ring, there’s a different tone,” he said.

One of HACCI’s major new initiatives is the establishment of an internship program, aimed at giving young Greek-Australians a helping hand at the beginning of their careers. “I remember growing up myself thinking, ‘if only I could have someone in my family who was connected and could open up some doors for me, the world is my oyster’,” he said.

“Well here we are, we’ve grown up, we’ve matured, we’ve established ourselves in different ways. We are now those people who hold those opportunities in our hands.”

Also high on the new HACCI’s agenda is looking beyond Greece to establish international business partnerships, in particular targeting other Greek diasporic communities.

“We have probably not done enough to try and capitalize or build some bridges to other English-speaking countries, which happen to have very vibrant and very strong populations of Greeks,” Mr Mylonas said.

He intends to focus on the USA and the UK, but is also aware that countries like Sweden and South Africa also have very active Greek populations. There is also the possibility that engaging with Greeks in these countries will lead to greater opportunities in Greece.

“I think that through them could possibly be the key for us to fast-track links back to politicians and government and people of influence in Greece.

The opportunity’s enormous and we certainly want to pursue it, and mine it, and see what we can come away with,” he said. HACCI is calling for anyone interested in getting involved, either on the board of management or any sub-committees, to come forward and make their interest known.