Press Releases
Partnering For Investment in Southeast Europe
Thessaloniki, Thursday, January 18, 2001
The Embassy of the United States of America in Greece, in cooperation with the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace and DIPEK (Inter Balkan and Black Sea Business Center) will hold a seminar on “Partnering for Investment in Southeast Europe” January 18-19 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Thessaloniki. This forum is designed to familiarize the business community in Greece and the region with support for private sector investment available from U.S. agencies involved in Balkan reconstruction and other institutions.
The seminar will also provide opportunities for establishing new links between businesses from the U.S., Greece, the F.Y.R. of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania and Kosovo.
Ambassador Nicholas Burns will open the seminar together with Minister George Paschalides, DIPEK President Dimitris Bakatselos, and Mr. Leonidas Kouides, President of the Northern Greece Committee of the American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Donald Kursch, Deputy Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact, will deliver the keynote address at the end of the seminar.
Three panels will discuss the following topics:
“IFI support for private sector investments in Southeast Europe”
“Partnering for investment projects in Southeast Europe” and
“Managing risk for private sector investors in Southeast Europe.”
Panelists representing the following U.S. or U.S. affiliated organizations will speak during the seminar:
- The Export-Import Bank;
- The Southeast Europe Equity Fund, managed by Soros;
- The U.S. Trade and Development Agency;
- The U.S. Agency for International Development;
- The U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
“Our investment seminar aims to help private investors understand the opportunities available in Southeast Europe and the kinds of support they can look for from the United States and others,” said Ambassador Burns. “As President Clinton said during his visit in 1999, we need to work closely with our Greek partners to support democracy, economic growth and stability in the Balkans. I look forward to advancing those goals with our seminar in Thessaloniki, January 18 and 19.”
For further information, please contact the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace.