Program – Full Style

Registrations for the Conference

Athanassios Savvakis, President, Federation of Industries of Northern Greece, Greece [Savvakis-xairetismos]

Maria Kollia - Tsaroucha, Deputy Minister of Interior & Administrative Reconstruction (Macedonia and Thrace), Greece [Welcome Speech]
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Governor, Region of Central Macedonia, Greece
Panagiotis Avramopoulos, President of the city Council of Thessaloniki, Greece
Vassilis Leventis, Leader, Union of Centrists party, Greece

George Stathakis, Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism, Greece

Alexis Charitsis, Deputy Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism, Greece [Speech]

Discussion with the participants

Adonis Georgiadis, Vice President, New Democracy party, Greece

From the rise of the Islamic State to the refugee crisis and Ukraine, the last years have been marked by geopolitical friction that led to several dramatic flash points. What can we learn from these conflicts and how can we respond to these challenges?

MODERATOR: Yiannis Papadogiannis, Journalist, KATHIMERINI

Keynote Speakers: Nikos Xydakis, Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Greece
Keynote Speakers: George Koumoutsakos, MP, Spokesman, New Democracy party, Greece

Theodore Pangalos, former Deputy Prime Minister of Greece
Konstantinos Filis, Director of Research, Institute of International Relations of Panteion University, Greece

Greece’s achievements during the difficult years of economic adjustment and on the current developments in the Greek economy and the sustainability of the Greek debt, highlighting future challenges and prospects.

MODERATOR: Paschos Mandravelis, Journalist, KATHIMERINI

Evangelos Venizelos, former Deputy Prime Minister, Greece
Chris Allen, Commission Resident in Athens, European Commission [Speech]
Christos Staikouras, former Alternate Minister of Finance, Greece [Speech]
Panagiotis Tsakloglou, Professor, International & European Economic Studies Dept., Athens University of Economics & Business, Greece
Zsolt Darvas, Senior Fellow, Bruegel, Brussels [Speech]

Local Government in times of Crisis: is it time for bottom - up solutions to our top - down problems?

Kostas Bakoyannis, Governor, Region of Central Greece

The EU Commission foresees investments in EU amounting to over 300 billion Euros in near future. Following that plan the Member States will propose numerous investment projects. What are the gears for new financial regimes? The role of different players: EC, EIB, financial institutions and private sector?

MODERATOR: Stamatis Zacharos, Publishing Consultant, 24Media Group, Journalist, Athens 9.84 Radio

Athanassios Savvakis, President, Federation of Industries of Northern Greece, Greece [Speech]
Christos Kontogeorgos, Deputy Advisor, Lending Operations in Greece, European Investment Bank, Greece [Speech]
Alkis Drakinos, Deputy Head for Greece, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development [Speech]
Christos Dimas, MP-Korinthia, Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, Shadow Budget Secretary for Nea Dimokratia party, Greece [Speech]
Andreas Chasapis, General Manager, Head of Commercial Banking, EUROBANK, Greece [Speech]
Nikos Vettas, Director General, Foundation of Economics & Industrial Research, Professor, Athens University of Economics & Business, Greece

Guest of Honor & Speaker: Margaritis Schinas, Chief Spokesperson, European Commission [Speech]

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Governor, Region of Central Macedonia, Greece

How can we increase the visibility of the regional capital markets? How can the regional capital markets benefit from linked trading and post trading infrastructures and aligned rules and regulations? Are such joint projects under way? How can European financial institutions support market development and cooperation? Which initiatives can allow SMEs to tap local and international investors? What is the view of the buy side in accessing those markets?

MODERATOR:  Socrates Lazaridis, CEO, Athens Stock Exchange, Greece [Speech]

Alkis Drakinos, Deputy Head for Greece, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Vassilis Kletsas, Fund Manager, IGROUP
Ivan Takev, CEO, Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE), Bulgaria
Nikolaos Troullinos, A’ Vice Chairman, Hellenic Capital Market Commission

Ivan Savvidi, Chairman, Agrocom Group Holding Company, Greece

Despite the volatile political environment, investments in Greece are gathering speed. The privatization commitments are being implemented. What are the projects that are being initialized and which ones are in the pipeline?

MODERATOR:   Antonis Papayiannidis, Chief Executive, ECONOMIKI EPITHEORISI

Vassilis Kafatos, Consulting Managing Partner, Deloitte, Greece [Speech]
Panos Papazoglou, Managing Partner, Ernst & Young, Greece
Mihalis Theodorakopoulos, Managing Director and Vice President of the Board of Hellas Gold, Greece [Speech]
Christian Hadjiminas, Vice Chairman, Hellenic Entrepreneurs Association (EENE), Greece

The importance of infrastructure as a key driver for growth, competitiveness and social wellbeing is well established. Yet, a significant number of economically viable infrastructure investments are not moving fast enough. How can we contribute to this objective?

MODERATOR: Antonis Papayiannidis, Chief Executive, ECONOMIKI EPITHEORISI

Ambassador Michael B. Christides, Secretary General, Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, Istanbul, Turkey [Speech]
Stergios Pitsiorlas, Chairman, Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (TAIPED), Greece
Dimitrios Makris, CEO, Thessaloniki Port Authority SA, Greece [Speech]
Andreas Andreadis, President, Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), Greece

What are the determinants of the value chain between businesses and commercial diplomacy? How can we better promote international trade, corporate partnerships and at the same time market Northern Greece as a location for FDI and R&D activities?

MODERATOR: Symeon Tsomokos, Chairman, Greece-Serbia Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Keynote Speaker: Peter Economides, Owner and founder, Felix BNI, Greece

Sotiris Leontaris, Head of Commercial Department, British Embassy to Greece [Speech]
David Mallette, Commercial Counselor, Embassy of Canada to Greece [Speech]
Asimina Tzika, President and CEO, ELVIAL SA [Speech]

George Pitsilis, Secretary General of Public Revenue, Ministry of Economy, Greece

More growth is needed to reduce high unemployment rates, to consolidate public finances and overcome growing divergence within the Eurozone. How is it possible to fashion and implement an industrial policy that strengthens Europeans’ global competitiveness and preserves our high living standards?

MODERATOR: Nectarios Notis, Financial Commentator, Athens 9,84 FM, CEO FnB Daily

Theodora Tzakri, Deputy Minister for Industry, Ministry of Economy, Development & Tourism, Greece
Jerry Naumoff, Minister for Foreign Investments, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Stamatis Theodoropoulos, Chairman, Hellenic Business Council in Bulgaria
George Alex. Milonas, Chairman and CEO, ALUMIL SA, Greece
Christos Charpantidis, Chairman and Managing Director, Papastratos SA, Greece

Diversification of energy resources, suppliers and routes is crucial for ensuring secure and resilient energy supplies to citizens and companies who expect access to affordable and competitively priced energy. How can we contribute to this objective?

MODERATOR: Alexia Tasouli, Diplomatic Correspondent, MEGA CHANNEL

Prof. Yannis Maniatis, MP, Democratic Coalition, former Minister of Environment, Energy & Climate Change, Greece
Ihsan Ugur Delikanli, President, Black Sea Trade & Development Bank, Turkey [Speech]
Stavros Goutsos, Deputy CEO, Public Power Corporation S.A., Greece [Speech]
Theodoros Kitsakos, CEO, Public Gas Corporation (DEPA), Greece
Rikard Scoufias, Country Manager, TAP, Greece

Digital Economy can dramatically contribute to innovation, growth and jobs. It is also a powerful tool to fuel the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). How can we help digital entrepreneurs and works on issues related to the competitiveness of the digital economy?

MODERATOR: Yannis Perlepes, General Manager, Naftemporiki

Anastasios Tzikas,  President,  Federation of Hellenic ICT Enterprises (SEPE), Greece
Nikolaos Chatziargyriou, Chairman & CEO, Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator SA, and Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering School, National Technical University of Athens, Greece [Speech]
Georgios Doukidis, Professor, Management, Science and Technology Dept., Athens University of Economics & Business, Greece [Speech]
Andreas Drimiotis, Business Consultant, Greece