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Victoria Mindova

Greek Exports Awards are a new initiative taken by private businessmen to boost exports. "We must encourage every producer in Greece into believing that he could become an exporter," states the director of Ethnos Media SA George Ouzounis, who is also the organizer of Greek Exports Awards. He is convinced that Greek products can be competitive and successful in international markets. Ouzounis recognizes that exporters are currently facing many challenges, primarily because the success of goods abroad is largely associated with the good name of the country of origin (the brand name of the country).

Businessmen know that the credibility of Greece abroad is still low due to the financial difficulties of the economy but do not think that they should wait for “brighter” times to start seeking new business opportunities abroad.

The reduced purchasing power in the country and the collapse of demand in the domestic market has driven many entrepreneurs to seek realization of their goods abroad. According to the union of diplomatic personnel and commercial attaches, the requests for assistance of Greek companies wishing to export reached almost 16 thousand in 2012 in contrast to 2011, when their number was less than 12 thousand. George Ouzounis states that the awards for best performance in exports will be held within the context of a three-day business forum.

The awards are divided into categories, the first prize being the exporter of the year "IASON: Premier Greek Exports Award 2013". It will be awarded to a large company with high turnover and a high volume of production marketed abroad. The second category of awards will honour the most effective commercial attaché of the union of Greek diplomats who contributed to the fast expansion of the commercial interests of the country. The third category will honour the leading exporter of Greek products in 2013. Twelve smaller prizes divided by sectors follow, which will cover the entire spectrum of the economic life and will include smaller companies.

At the forum, 400 meetings between entrepreneurs from Greece and abroad will be held at which they will be able to negotiate real deals. "Participating in such an event costs entrepreneurs much less than going to the country in which they wish to export and looking for potential buyers alone," states Ouzounis. Businessmen interested in Greek products from countries such as the United Kingdom, Sweden, Austria, Germany, Albania, Italy, Macedonia, Lebanon, Poland, France and Russia will attend the forum. Applications for participation will be accepted until 11 March this year and the forum will take place from 28 to 30 March.