Greek Economic Summit to Focus on Prospects for Growth Beyond Covid

Hundreds of policymakers, diplomats, entrepreneurs, economists and academics from all over the world are expected to tune in for the 31st annual Greek Economic Summit (GES), to be held digitally on December 1-3.
The Summit, called “Forging Ahead in Challenging Times,” is organized by the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, which works to enhance economic, business, and trade collaboration between Greece and the US, in cooperation with the Athens Stock Exchange.
It is held in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Atlantic Council.
Over the decades, the Summit has established itself as a national institution. It has been setting the agenda of political and economic issues dominating relations between Greece, the US and Europe.
“Over the past 31 years, the GES has become a reference point for the economic and political developments of the country,” said the President of the American-Hellenic Chamber, Nikolaos Bakatselos.
“As we try to navigate these challenging times, the Summit and the Chamber’s year-round work to enhance economic, business, and trade collaboration has become more important than ever in support of Greece’s prospects for a recovery.”

This year, however, the GES assumes a particular importance, given the political change in the US and the coronavirus pandemic.
In a message congratulating President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President elect Kamala Harris on their victory, Bakatselos noted that the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce “looks forward to working with the new Administration to further enhance this excellent relationship (between the US and Greece) to better meet the pressing challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond.”
The new opportunities — and perhaps challenges — that the Biden administration will bring to the bilateral relationship will inevitably be one of the underlying themes of the GES.
Speakers will also explore Greece’s dynamic efforts to overcome the impact of the economic disruption caused by the global pandemic and establish the necessary mechanisms and reforms to transform the crisis into an opportunity for sustainable growth.
Organizers at the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce say emphasis will also be given to Greece’s efforts to close the investment gap and transition from a tourism-reliant economy by expanding its economic footprint in key areas such as energy, healthcare, logistics and technology.
“We have formed an exceptional agenda for the summit this year with an extraordinary lineup of speakers from both sides of the Atlantic,” Managing Director of the Chamber Elias Spirtounias said.
“Building upon the Chamber’s mission to foster growth opportunities between Greece and the US, GES 2020 will devote much of its content to advancing US-Greece business, investment and trade relations for the benefit of not only the two countries but for the wider Southeast European region,” he added.
A highlight of this year’s event will be a roundtable discussion featuring Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Vice President of the US Chamber of Commerce, Myron Brilliant and the CEOs of leading multinationals: Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer, Andre Calantzopoulos, the CEO of Philip Morris International and Punit Renjen, the Global CEO of Deloitte.
The discussion, held on Wednesday, December 2, will be moderated by the President of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, Nikolaos Bakatselos.
Keynote speakers will also include the following:

To register and to view the latest agenda and speakers list please click here.
The American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, established in 1932, is one of the largest and most active American Chambers in Europe.
With a corporate membership today of some 1,000 companies operating in Greece, including American companies doing business in Greece and major Greek enterprises doing business in or with the US, the Chamber continues to encourage and facilitate trade, investment and professional partnerships on both sides of the Atlantic.
From Fortune 500 companies to small and medium-sized businesses, nearly all US companies that do business in Greece and Greek companies that engage in trade with the United States are members of the Chamber.
Its efforts have helped pave the way for US giants such as Microsoft, Pfizer, Cisco, and Google to expand their footprint in Greece.
The Chamber is a fully-accredited member of the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C., and is affiliated with the European Council of American Chambers of Commerce (ECACC).
Among the event’s sponsors are: Deloitte, OTE Group of Companies, Piraeus Bank, CISCO, GOOGLE, HELLENIC PETROLEUM, HEDNO, PUBLIC POWER COMPANY, PAPASTRATOS, PFIZER, EUNICE Group, EY, IBM HELLAS, JOHNSON & JOHNSON, LOCKHEED MARTIN, ORACLE, and PwC.