The Embassy of Greece in Canberra and the Office for Economy and Trade in Sydney, in partnership with Business Sydney, the Honorary Consulate General of Greece in Queensland and Enterprise Greece, successfully hosted a high-level webinar today titled “Business Opportunities arising from the Olympic Games Procurement Program (Brisbane 2032)”.
The event brought together senior government officials, representatives from the Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI), industry leaders and representatives from the construction and infrastructure sectors in both Greece and Australia to explore the significant commercial opportunities linked to the 2032 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games.
With Queensland committing approximately AUD 7.1 billion toward the construction of seven new stadiums and the renovation of ten existing venues, Brisbane 2032 represents one of the largest infrastructure programs in Australia’s history. The initiative is expected to generate substantial opportunities across infrastructure works, building materials, engineering, consulting, technology and technical services.
Executive Director of Business Sydney, Paul Nicolaou, opened the webinar by highlighting the scale of opportunity emerging from Brisbane’s Games preparations and the importance of strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties between Greece and Australia.
The Ambassador of Greece to Australia, His Excellency Stavros Venizelos, addressed participants via video message, reaffirming Greece’s strong interest in supporting Greek enterprises to engage with major international projects and deepen economic cooperation with Australia.
The Honorary Consul General of Greece in Queensland and CEO of Aniko Group, George D. Mastrocostas, provided an in-depth overview of Queensland’s dynamic construction market. He outlined practical market entry strategies for Greek firms and emphasised the scale of the state’s infrastructure pipeline, which is projected to grow significantly through 2027.
Mr Mastrocostas also noted current sector challenges including rising construction costs, labour shortages and productivity pressures, particularly in Brisbane where demand remains strong.
Dr Marinos Giannopoulos, CEO of Enterprise Greece, highlighted the growing international footprint of Greek construction and engineering companies. He noted their expanding presence across Europe, the Middle East and in energy infrastructure projects, underscoring their capability to compete in complex global markets such as Australia.
Participants also heard from key Australian procurement and infrastructure leaders involved in the delivery of Brisbane 2032:
- Mr Warren Jansen, CEO of ICN National Office, presented the Industry Capability Network’s national procurement platform, which will facilitate access to Games-related supply chain opportunities by breaking large contracts into accessible packages for suppliers.
- Mr Robert McRuvie, Director of Procurement for the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee, outlined the strategic approach to procurement planning, tendering, supplier engagement and legacy outcomes.
- Mr Stephen Conry AM, Chairman of the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA), detailed the governance and oversight framework guiding the delivery of Games venues and associated infrastructure to ensure long-term benefits for Queensland.
The webinar’s closing remarks reinforcing the shared commitment to fostering trade, investment and collaboration between Greek and Australian businesses.
The event marked an important step in positioning Greek companies to participate in one of the most significant infrastructure programs of the coming decade, while further strengthening the longstanding economic and cultural ties between Greece and Australia.
