Greek Participation at SelectUSA Summit2021
Impressive response to Enterprise Greece’s call for the Greek delegation to “SelectUSA Summit 2021”
USA Market – a center of attraction this year, for Greek export, IT and startup companies
Athens, 28 April 2021 | Enterprise Greece, the official agency of the Greek State, under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that promotes exports and attracts foreign direct investment, announced its initiative to organize and support the Greek business delegation to SelectUSA Summit 2021 at a virtual event: “SelectUSA Summit2021: A Business Growth Opportunities for Greek companies”, held on Monday, April 26, in collaboration with the Embassy of the United States in Athens.
The response was impressive, as the event amounted to 530 registered participants, a fact that demonstrates the huge interest of Greece’s export, Tech, and startup companies for doing business in the US market.
Ms. Betty Alexandropoulou, Executive Director and Member of the Board, of Enterprise Greece, in her keynote speech, presented the Agency’s plan for organizing, supporting, and preparing the Greek delegation at this year’s SelectUSA Summit-which will be held virtually from 7 to 11 June 2021.
Focusing on the particularities of this demanding strategic market, she elaborated on its diversity – due to its size – complexity, business ethics and modus operandi. The US market is the largest consumer market in the world, with a GDP of $20 trillion and 325 million citizens. Household spending is the highest in the world, amounting to more than a quarter of the global household consumption.
The prospects for Greek export businesses are particularly important. According to the International Trade Center (ITC) Export Capacity Charter, there is untapped potential of $ 1.2 billion in key sectors such as food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, minerals, and consumer goods for Greek exports to the US.
This year’s summit is conducted virtually, which makes participation easier and more accessible for the Greek SME’s, in specific sectors, technology companies and startups. For the very first time, Enterprise Greece organizes the Greek business delegation in the SelectUSA Summit 2021, ensuring discounted registration fees for exporters and offering preparatory webinars for the US market, in the context of the Agency’s overall digitization of operations and services. The collaboration with the US Department of Commerce for this year’s SelectUSA Summit is in line Enterprise Greece’s strategy to support the local outward looking companies with digital and innovative tools. Such innovative collaborations take our efforts to a new level. The Greek delegation will definitely leave its mark on the other side of the Atlantic” stressed Ms. Alexandropoulou.
The Deputy Minister for Economic Diplomacy and Openness, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Costas Fragoyiannis, the Secretary General for International and Economic Affairs, and Chairman of Enterprise Greece, Mr. Ioannis Smyrlis and the US Ambassador in Athens, Mr. Geoffrey R. Pyatt addressed the event.
The Deputy Minister for Economic Diplomacy and Openness of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Costas Fragoyiannis stated: “This is the first time that the Greek government’s trade and investment agency, Enterprise Greece, supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has actually committed to create and support an elite team of approximately 50 businesses to participate in the prestigious SelectUSA Investment Summit to be held in June on a virtual platform. Every business would like a chance in the American market, and this year there will be even more sessions and interactions giving Greek businesses the great opportunity to connect to EDO representatives in the large US market. We have started to see the results of our Ministry’s concerted multi-faceted efforts in Economic Diplomacy and participation as a dynamic team in the Select USA Investment Summit 2021 will be further proof of the many changes already evident in an outward-looking business-friendly ‘new’ Greece”.
The Secretary General for International and Economic Affairs, and Chairman of Enterprise Greece, Mr. Ioannis Smyrlis, stated: “Given the motive of Greek export businesses to access and penetrate US market, Enterprise Greece, takes the initiative for the first time, to cooperate with the US Department of Commerce, in order to support dynamic Greek enterprises to participate virtually in a five-day investment conference “SelectUSA Summit 2021”, which will be held next June in Washington. The above initiative aims to offer in depth information to stakeholders on business opportunities for innovative Greek, small and medium-sized, export businesses, which will participate for the first time in this Conference, and on how to promote their products and services in the USA.
The US Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Geoffrey R. Pyatt, after thanking Enterprise Greece for the cooperation, stressed that United States is committed to cooperating with Greece, to achieve sustainable economic recovery and added that technology is an area that offers cooperation, as proven by the latest investment of Microsoft in Attica.
Mr. Seth Isenberg, Senior International Investment Specialist, SelectUSA, US Department of Commerce, presented the prospects of the American market for Greek businesses and referred to the special features of this year’s event.
Greek companies of the following sectors: Food & Beverage, Consumer Products, Pharmaceuticals, Technology, Advanced Processing, Aerospace, Automotive, Chemical / Construction and Energy, wishing to do business in the US market, are eligible to participate in the “SelectUSA Sumit 2021”.
Startups in technology sector, are given the opportunity to participate in the startup pitching sessions (presentation of business ideas). A special emphasis is also placed on the promotion of women entrepreneurship in the technology sector, with the Select Global Women in Tech (SWWIT) – education and consulting network – which includes a comprehensive international mentoring program aiming to introduce women entrepreneurs in the technology sector of the US market.
Enterprise Greece’s executives presented the overall action plan for the target market and described in detail, the terms, conditions, as well as the process of the participating companies in this year’s SelectUSA Summit, indicating that interested parties can submit their application by April 30, 2021, at the following link: https://www.enterprisegreece.gov.gr/select-usa-summit-2021
Well-Known businessmen shared their own experience from the US market and from previous events. Among them the President of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Chairman and CEO of Pyramis Metallourgia S.A., Mr. Nikolaos Bakatselos, the CEO of Systems Sunlight S.A., Mr. Lambros Bisalas, the New Business Development Director of Chipita S.A., Mr. Sotiris Seimanidis, the Chief Financial Officer of Kleeman S.A., Mr. Aristeidis Zervas, and the Founder and General Manager of Siba Soft S.A., Mrs. Eleni Theodoridou.
 Export Capacity Charter, there is untapped potential of $ 1.2 billion in key sectors such as food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, minerals, and consumer goods for Greek exports to the US.</p>
<p>This year’s summit is conducted virtually, which makes participation easier and more accessible for the Greek SME’s, in specific sectors, technology companies and startups. For the very first time, Enterprise Greece organizes the Greek business delegation in the SelectUSA Summit 2021, ensuring discounted registration fees for exporters and offering preparatory webinars for the US market, in the context of the Agency’s overall digitization of operations and services. The collaboration with the US Department of Commerce for this year’s SelectUSA Summit is in line Enterprise Greece’s strategy to support the local outward looking companies with digital and innovative tools. Such innovative collaborations take our efforts to a new level. The Greek delegation will definitely leave its mark on the other side of the Atlantic” stressed Ms. Alexandropoulou.</p>
<p>The Deputy Minister for Economic Diplomacy and Openness, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Costas Fragoyiannis, the Secretary General for International and Economic Affairs, and Chairman of Enterprise Greece, Mr. Ioannis Smyrlis and the US Ambassador in Athens, Mr. Geoffrey R. Pyatt addressed the event.</p>
<p>The Deputy Minister for Economic Diplomacy and Openness of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Costas Fragoyiannis stated: “This is the first time that the Greek government’s trade and investment agency, Enterprise Greece, supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has actually committed to create and support an elite team of approximately 50 businesses to participate in the prestigious SelectUSA Investment Summit to be held in June on a virtual platform. Every business would like a chance in the American market, and this year there will be even more sessions and interactions giving Greek businesses the great opportunity to connect to EDO representatives in the large US market. We have started to see the results of our Ministry’s concerted multi-faceted efforts in Economic Diplomacy and participation as a dynamic team in the Select USA Investment Summit 2021 will be further proof of the many changes already evident in an outward-looking business-friendly ‘new’ Greece”.</p>
<p>The Secretary General for International and Economic Affairs, and Chairman of Enterprise Greece, Mr. Ioannis Smyrlis, stated: “Given the motive of Greek export businesses to access and penetrate US market, Enterprise Greece, takes the initiative for the first time, to cooperate with the US Department of Commerce, in order to support dynamic Greek enterprises to participate virtually in a five-day investment conference “SelectUSA Summit 2021”, which will be held next June in Washington. The above initiative aims to offer in depth information to stakeholders on business opportunities for innovative Greek, small and medium-sized, export businesses, which will participate for the first time in this Conference, and on how to promote their products and services in the USA.</p>
<p>The US Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Geoffrey R. Pyatt, after thanking Enterprise Greece for the cooperation, stressed that United States is committed to cooperating with Greece, to achieve sustainable economic recovery and added that technology is an area that offers cooperation, as proven by the latest investment of Microsoft in Attica.</p>
<p>Mr. Seth Isenberg, Senior International Investment Specialist, SelectUSA, US Department of Commerce, presented the prospects of the American market for Greek businesses and referred to the special features of this year’s event.</p>
<p>Greek companies of the following sectors: Food & Beverage, Consumer Products, Pharmaceuticals, Technology, Advanced Processing, Aerospace, Automotive, Chemical / Construction and Energy, wishing to do business in the US market, are eligible to participate in the “SelectUSA Sumit 2021”.</p>
<p>Startups in technology sector, are given the opportunity to participate in the startup pitching sessions (presentation of business ideas). A special emphasis is also placed on the promotion of women entrepreneurship in the technology sector, with the Select Global Women in Tech (SWWIT) – education and consulting network - which includes a comprehensive international mentoring program aiming to introduce women entrepreneurs in the technology sector of the US market.</p>
<p>Enterprise Greece’s executives presented the overall action plan for the target market and described in detail, the terms, conditions, as well as the process of the participating companies in this year’s SelectUSA Summit, indicating that interested parties can submit their application by April 30, 2021, at the following link: <a href="select-usa-summit-2021">https://www.enterprisegreece.gov.gr/select-usa-summit-2021</a></p>
<p>Well-Known businessmen shared their own experience from the US market and from previous events. Among them the President of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Chairman and CEO of Pyramis Metallourgia S.A., Mr. Nikolaos Bakatselos, the CEO of Systems Sunlight S.A., Mr. Lambros Bisalas, the New Business Development Director of Chipita S.A., Mr. Sotiris Seimanidis, the Chief Financial Officer of Kleeman S.A., Mr. Aristeidis Zervas, and the Founder and General Manager of Siba Soft S.A., Mrs. Eleni Theodoridou.</p>
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