The Hellenic Australian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) National Federation has launched a new partnership with commerce and trade peak bodies in Greece.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Tuesday with the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Athens (ACCI), Piraeus (PCCI), Thessaloniki (TCCI), and the Greek Exporters Association (SEVE).

“I’m delighted to see the HACCI National Federation and their Greek counterparts creating new avenues for stronger economic and commercial cooperation in a wide range of fields,” said Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan.

Setting up a centralised communication system between the signatory organisations’ members, knowledge exchange and innovation, and organising seminars for potential investment opportunities, are among the objectives set out in the MoU.

Areas of collaboration that signatories hope to engage in, include reciprocal sourcing of speakers, holding joint events, and cross promotion of initiatives and events.

Greece’s Ambassador to Australia, Stavros Venizelos stated that the partnership “marks an era of enhanced collaboration, aiming to explore opportunities in business-to-business connections, trade fairs, research dissemination, mentoring, and policy advocacy.

HACCI NF Council Chair, Fotini Kypraios, was delighted with the outcome of a long held goal for the organisation.

“It is a historic moment for us, a testament to the HNF’s commitment to supporting and fostering bilateral trade and professional networks between Australia and Greece. Since its inception, this sort of collaboration has been one of the HNF key objectives.”

The agreement was forged during a series of video conferences between the HACCI National Federations (NF) Council and representatives of the Hellenic Industry, Commerce, and Export Organisations.

Signatories included HACCI NF Council Chair and HACCI Victoria Board Chair Fotini Kypraios, HACCI WA President, Dr Elena Limnios, HACCI NT Chair Angela Tomazos, and HACCI SA Chair Kostas Koutsonas, Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry President, Sofia Kounenaki – Efraimoglou, Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry President, Vassilis Korkidis, Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Ioannis Masoutis, and Greek Exporters Association (SEVE) President, Symeon Diamantidis.