The Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry National Federation (HACCI NF) marked a significant milestone with its inaugural online event ‘Bridging Markets: Greece-Australia Trade Insights’ on Thursday 20th March.
Organised in collaboration with the Greek Exporters Association – SEVE and international industry leaders KLEEMANN Hellas SA and ALUMIL, the event attracted over 100 participants from both Australia and Greece.
The webinar was part of the collaboration between the HACCI National Federation, SEVE, and Greece’s leading Chambers of Commerce and Industry (in Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, and Rethymnon) focusing on promoting B2B connections, facilitating knowledge exchange, organising joint events, and exploring the potential for a trade delegation next year.
It marked a monumental step in strengthening the ties between the two nations and fostering new opportunities for trade, investment, and strategic partnerships.
In his address to the panel, Executive Vice-President of SEVE, Panayiotis Hassapis praised HACCI for setting an example for cooperation between Greece and the Hellenic Diaspora, commenting that this sort of unity is not a given.
Mr Hassapis pointed out that Greece presents significant opportunities for Australian businesses seeking to expand their presence, despite the fact bilateral trade is low. Australia is Greece’s 45th export destination and Australia is Greece’s 67th importing country. Elaborating on this “huge potential,” Mr Hassapis identified areas of opportunity, such as real estate; industrial equipment and machinery; and the high-quality chemical imports.
Two of the main points of interest were the experiences of KLEEMANN Hellas SA, a leading manufacturer of elevators, escalators, and related mobility solutions, and ALUMIL, Greece’s leader in research, development, and production of aluminium architectural systems, in their efforts to establish a presence in Australia.
KLEEMANN’s has been a story of success, starting with the company participating in trades and exhibitions, then looking for a reliable partnership, and finally moving from a B2B approach to a B2C model, which allowed them to now claim 8 per cent of the market.
ALUMIL’s experience, on the other side, had been different: after two failed joint ventures, the company tried to operate in Australia on its own, facing logistical challenges, and insurmountable rental and operational costs. More importantly, it was a difference on business mindset that made partnerships difficult. In the end, ALUMIL found that the most sensible approach is to ship directly from Greece to Australia.
These two diametrically opposite experiences shed light to the challenges, but also to the opportunities for Australian businesses in Greece and the potential for Greek businesses to expand into the Australian market.
A strong foundation for future growth:
Dr. Elena Limnios, Chair of HACCI National Federation, expressed her enthusiasm about the event’s success, stating: “This event marked a pivotal moment in the growing Hellenic Australian business network. By bringing together over 100 participants from both countries, we’ve demonstrated the shared appetite for collaboration and the strength of this network.”
“HACCI National Federation, the Greek Chambers of Commerce, and SEVE are together laying the foundation for long-term trade and investment growth. We are committed to creating real opportunities by connecting the innovation and heritage of Greece with the dynamism of the Australian market,” Dr Limnios added.
Future Opportunities and Strategic Considerations:
The event also provided a platform for discussing broader global trade dynamics, the impact of tariffs, and strategies for market entry into both Europe and Asia. Attendees were encouraged to explore strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and potentially local manufacturing options to enhance market penetration in both regions.
