A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoU) was signed on September 10, 2022, by the Hellenic Investment and Foreign Trade Company (Enterprise Greece) and the Region of Central Greece, in the context of the 86th International Exhibition of Thessaloniki, at the Ioannis Vellidis Conference Center.

The Hellenic Investment and Foreign Trade Company (Enterprise Greece) was represented by the General Secretary of International Economic Relations and Outreach of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its President, Mr. Ioannis Smyrlis, and the Region of Central Greece, the Regional Governor, Mr. Fanis H. Whiskerless.

The common goal of the contracting parties is the promotion of the Region of Central Greece as a business hub. A promotion always in line with its development strategy and with respect to its particular socio-economic characteristics.

The objectives of Enterprise Greece

They focus on the following pillars:

• Presentation of the Region in the international business market
• Strengthening the internationalization of regional small and medium enterprises
• Presentation of its products, services and cultural heritage
• Joint development of studies, research and implementation of programs that constitute a potential development mechanism, as well as participation in national and European co-financed Programs
• Promoting networking, mutual learning and the identification and dissemination of best practices of other European Union Regions

The General Secretary of International Economic Relations and Outreach of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and President of Enterprise Greece, Ioannis Smyrlis, stated in his greeting, at the event organized for the signing of the MoU, that the Memorandum is strong and practical proof of the close cooperation that has been developed with all Regions of the country and with the Union of Regions of Greece. Mr Smyrlis pointed out that since the beginning of the term of this government, everyone's goal, but also the personal pursuit of the prime minister, Mr. Kyriakou Mitsotakis, there was equal and sustainable development of the entire country. An inclusive development that will put the country on a path of steady recovery and progress. Thus sealing that the Greece of today is very different from the Greece of previous years.

Referring to the unprecedented and particularly complex challenges of recent years, Mr. Smyrlis emphasized that the Greek economy managed to cope, demonstrating remarkable resilience, with Greek businesses showing a significant improvement in their sizes, thus laying the foundations for a better tomorrow.

He then referred to the close cooperation of the government - Regions - Agencies - Chambers - Businesses, who, through targeted Economic Diplomacy actions and the utilization of tools, supported Greek products and services in their efforts to operate in international markets and highlighted Greece as an important investment destination . In this context, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed with the Union of Regions of Greece (ENPE), while the establishment of "Outreach Offices" is planned within 2022 in cooperation with the local chambers.