The Greek city of Kalamata is set to open an Office for the Diaspora, Mayor Athanasios Vasilopoulos announced at a press conference on Wednesday after returning from his visit to Australia.
The Office will develop ties between Kalamata and the diaspora, as well as offer appropriate information and guidance to expatriates who want to invest in the city.
“It is a political choice for us, for Kalamata to go beyond our borders, to invest in actions that promote the region… all over the world,” Mr Vasilopoulos said.
Mr Vasilopoulos added that although this effort was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are now starting to take the coordinated steps and necessary moves to strengthen Kalamata’s position on the world map.
“Obviously we are building on the foundations that for years we have showcased as a region, and I am referring not only to our famous agricultural products but also through our cultural events and festivals, which are world-renowned,” he said.
From there, the Mayor touched on his recent trip to Australia and said he was impressed by the strong Greek presence there.
During his visit to Adelaide, Mr Vasilopoulos visited Kalamata’s sister city West Torrens, whilst in Melbourne he attended the official launching of Kalamata Place in Thornbury and the Antipodes festival.
“As a Municipality, we must keep our eyes on the future, we are open to collaborations, indeed we seek them, and I am sure that as a series of processes have already started… in the next period we will have movements both from Melbourne and from Adelaide,” Mr Vasilopoulos hinted about the future.
