Greece–Slovakia Business Forum
Greece–Slovakia Business Forum
New Opportunities for Bilateral Cooperation and Investment
Athens, 19 June 2026 | The Greece–Slovakia Business Forum was successfully held on 17 June 2026, in the framework of the International Innovation and Technology Exhibition BEYOND EXPO 2026. The event was co-organised by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Enterprise Greece, and the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO), with the support of the Enterprise Europe Network Hellas and the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Forum aimed to provide insights into Slovakia’s business environment, highlight opportunities to strengthen bilateral economic relations, and create meaningful networking and partnership opportunities between Greek and Slovak companies.
Opening the event, ACCI President Mr Giannis Bratakos highlighted the importance of exploring the prospects for cooperation between the two countries through a more practical, targeted, and ambitious approach. He noted that Slovakia possesses a strong industrial base and an internationally recognised position in the automotive and technology sectors, while Greece is undergoing a period of productive transformation, investing in extroversion, innovation, and the green transition.
He emphasised that Greek entrepreneurship is becoming more dynamic, more internationally oriented, and increasingly prepared to pursue partnerships that generate added value. Although bilateral trade remains relatively limited in scale, significant growth potential exists in sectors such as industry, energy, logistics, tourism, and emerging technologies.
“Initiatives such as this aim to transform diplomacy into tangible partnerships. This is why we place particular emphasis on B2B meetings. This is where the essence lies: in direct interaction, the exchange of ideas, and the pursuit of common business benefits,” Mr Bratakos stated.
The CEO of Enterprise Greece, Dr Marinos Giannopoulos, stated: “The Greece–Slovakia Business Forum highlighted the genuine potential for strengthening economic cooperation between Greece and Slovakia, extending beyond the narrow scope of trade relations. The two countries possess complementary advantages and can develop more targeted partnerships in sectors such as industry, technology, innovation, energy, logistics, agri-food, and high value-added services.
At a time when Europe is seeking more resilient value chains, new production partnerships, and stronger interconnection among its businesses, initiatives of this nature are of particular importance. They create practical channels of communication and cooperation between companies, institutions, and markets.
At Enterprise Greece, we remain committed to enhancing the internationalisation of Greek businesses, promoting Greece as a reliable investment and business destination, and fostering international partnerships with measurable added value.”
The Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the Hellenic Republic, Ms Marcela Hanusová, highlighted the excellent diplomatic relations between the two countries and underlined that the Forum represents an important bridge for transforming diplomacy into meaningful business partnerships.
During the keynote speeches, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs responsible for Economic Diplomacy and Openness, Mr Haris Theocharis, together with his Slovak counterpart, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Rastislav Chovanec, welcomed the participants of the Greece–Slovakia Business Forum and presented the profile of modern Greece, which has become an international point of reference for the speed and effectiveness of its reform process.
In his remarks, Mr Theocharis highlighted the country’s significant achievements in the field of digital transformation, with the gov.gr platform serving as a notable example. The platform currently provides more than 2,250 digital public services, has served over 9 million citizens, and generates annual economic benefits approaching €300 million for citizens, businesses, and the public sector.
He also referred to Greece’s progress in the field of Artificial Intelligence, emphasising the importance of the “Pharos” AI Factory in Lavrio, which is among the first seven corresponding hubs being developed across Europe.
Referring to the prospects for Greece–Slovakia cooperation, Mr Theocharis stressed that opportunities for joint initiatives extend across a broad range of sectors, including technology, artificial intelligence, green energy, defence, tourism, and the agri-food sector.
At the same time, he underlined the crucial role of the business community in capitalising on opportunities created through initiatives such as this Forum, noting the importance of transforming discussions and contacts into concrete partnerships and business agreements that deliver tangible and measurable benefits for companies, as well as for the economies and societies of both countries.
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Mr Rastislav Chovanec, focused on the growth potential of the Slovak market and the opportunities for joint European initiatives.
Subsequently, Dr Dimitris Karydis (European Programmes Advisor, Enterprise Greece) and Ms Silvia Radovanović (Advisor at the Foreign Trade Department of SARIO) presented the economic profiles, competitive advantages, and investment incentives offered by both countries.
The programme continued with a Slovak Companies Pitching Session, during which Slovak businesses presented their innovative solutions and products.
The Forum concluded with the organisation of more than 50 targeted B2B meetings between Greek and Slovak companies. Participants had the opportunity to establish direct contacts, exchange know-how, and lay the foundations for business partnerships in areas of mutual interest.
The event was moderated by Mr Karolos Kostopoulos, Member of the Board of Directors of ACCI.