Election Of The New Board of Directors Of The Hellenic-African Chamber

The new Board is composed of shipowners' representatives and entrepreneurs highly experienced in African countries such as Tsakos shipowner's group, Soutou's shipowner group, representatives of business groups such as Metka, Koumantaros' Group, VIOHALCO, INTRASOFT, etc. Participants as well include Honorary Consuls of African countries such as Vicky Pantazopoulou (Kenya), Catherine Armenaki (Aithiopoia), Vassilis Takas (N. Africa), etc.,

Dimitris Maniatakis referred to the aims and the work that the Chamber achieved during the period 2012-2014 and stressed on the scheduled activities planned for the coming three-year and related to business missions in African countries and conferences regarding investment opportunities in cooperation with the Central Union of Chambers of Greece as an opportunity for other bilateral Chambers to get acquainted with the work of the Greek-African Chamber and thus proceed to synergies.

He furthermore stressed that nowadays African economy is growing remarkably. Standard Chartered anticipates that within the next twenty yearseconomy in Africa will increase at an average annual rate of 7%, reversing the trend that has prevailed since 1975. This change is due to:

a) Political decision of most African governments to adopt drastic economic reforms aimed at reducing public deficit and

b) improvement of business environment

He stressed that "The purpose of the Greek-African Chamber of Commerce is to develop economic and trade relations between Greece and the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. In a global economy where virgin markets are now few, the challenge for penetration is great. Global economy is looking up for new markets for investment and export products and this is what we should all aim at. That is why the giants of the world economy such as the US, India and China arealready actively working in Africa. "