Austrade – the Australian government’s trade and investment development agency – will close its office in Greece this week as part of a reallocation of its resources in Europe.
Federal Trade Minister Craig Emerson announced a comprehensive reform of Austrade last year, whose annual budget of almost $200 million is being increasingly focused on emerging markets.
The closure comes as a raft of new initiatives aimed at connecting Greece and Australia are being rolled out – including an Hellenic-Australia Business Council based in Athens, and the creation of a consultative committee by federal government on bilateral arrangements with Greece.
Austrade’s presence in Athens was through one full-time post based at the Australian Embassy.
The Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) has expressed its disappointment at the decision.
George Iliopoulos, HACCI’s director for trade told Neos Kosmos:
“We regularly work with the Austrade office in Athens and have done so for over ten years.
“It plays an important role, not only in supporting trade and investment in Greece and Australia through business matching and networking but also by providing a framework for bilateral cooperation, and the exchange of trade and business ideas between our two countries.”
Mr Iliopoulos said that HACCI would be seeking support from other leading Greek organizations “to protest against this mistimed decision”.
Austrade has operations in 100 cities in 55 countries, serviced by 70 Australia-based executives, assisted by many staff locally.
HACCI’s president Nick Mylonas has written to Craig Emerson asking for Austrade’s decision to be reversed.
