Deputy Foreign Minister D. Mardas, who is in charge of international economic relations, announced the setting-up of mixed inter-ministerial committees in 12 countries and a total of 22 business and trade missions to markets abroad for 2017.
The planning thereof takes the outcomes of economic diplomacy actions so far into account and is expected to be fully complete by the end of 2016. It, moreover, has a bearing on the need to strengthen the fabric of Greek bilateral economic relations and facilitate entrepreneurial extroversion. To that end, the Foreign Ministry works closely together with collective representation bodies from Greece (Agencies, Organisations, Chambers etc.). Against this backdrop, the following are in store for 2017:
Α. Mixed Inter-Ministerial Committees
Inter-Ministerial Committees are a useful tool in promoting bilateral economic relations as they do the groundwork and prepare the relevant bilateral institutional framework, help problem-solving or act proactively while, moreover, enhancing the extroversion of Greek businesses. Let it be noted that 12 Inter-Ministerial Committees have been planned through the end of 2016, unlike previous years when a significantly lower number of such committees had been convoked (2010-2014: a total of 14).
Planning for 2017 provides for mixed inter-ministerial committees with Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Georgia, the U.A.E., Iran, Belarus, Morocco, South Africa, Ukraine, the Russian Federation and Chile.
Β. Business Missions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, either independently or in conjunction with business agencies.
After having analysed and processed Greek export data with reference to various countries, along with proposals submitted by Embassies/ECA offices as well as suggestions by relevant agencies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided upon new upcoming business missions for 2017 to encompass the markets of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Iran, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Latvia, the Netherlands and Finland.
In addition, out of committees planned, the following will be coupled with respective business missions, i.e. to Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, U.A.E., Belarus, Morocco, Ukraine, Russia and Chile.
Updates and information on business missions are provided on a topical and timely manner, care of Directorate Β8 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through posts on agora.mfa.gr, while, moreover, Chambers and professional agencies receive the respective invites.
On the basis of the afore-stated programming which for the first time is done in advance, and prior to year’s end, Greek businesses will get the opportunity to take part in missions involving a total of 22 countries. For comparison purposes, let it be noted that between 2010 and 2014 there were overall 12 missions, i.e. as many as in 2016 alone. Moreover, as in 2016, business missions are going to focus each and every time on exactly those specific sectors of products and services in which respective market research has indicated there are interesting opportunities on offer for Greek exporters.
Last, some of the aforementioned business and trade missions will, on a case by case basis, materialize in cooperation with Greek business and sectoral agencies.
September 21, 2016