Greek PM sends envoy to Hermes Expo, representation of Greece phenomenal


Greek Prime Minister Constantine Karamanlis will be represented at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the 14th Hermes Expo international by Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Nikos Tsiartsionis. The inaugural of the two-day exhibit is slated for Saturday, April 16th and Sunday April 17, 2005 at Trump Marina Hotel & Resort in atlantic City, NJ.

The Hellene Minister is expected to be the keynote speaker at the Symposium, expanding on the theme Prospects of growth for the American Hellenic Diplomatic Economy in the post-Olympic era. Counterpart on the American side, keynote speaker is the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, Aris Melissaratos.

Another official of the Greek Government who will be attending is the mayor of Thessaloniki Vasilios Papageorgopoulos with an entourage of sixteen, representing that city and its Chambers of Commerce and Industry. As it is well known, the ties between the city of Philadelphia and Thessaloniki are constantly growing, ever since the two mayoralties struck a business pact of mutual cooperation last April, within the framework of the Exhibition. Concurrently, Hellene Americans of the Philadelphia area have shown marked activity in that direction, particularly that at the initiative of Hermes Expo founder Paul Kotrotsios, official American business delegations have participated in the Thessalonikis Helexpo every September during the last four years.

Participating among others as exhibitors at the Expo are the Prefecture of Achaia, Dimitrios Katsikopoulos, the Prefecture singled out for specific honors this year, the cities of Thessaloniki and Larissa, as is the Industrial Chambers of Evoia and Thessaloniki. Furthermore, the 4? MTS will participate with twelve booths promoting tourism, among the many Hellenic-American and American ventures, many of which are targeting the Hellenic American as well as the Hellenic markets overseas.

Ted Spyropoulos, president of Hellenic American National Council and CEO of TGS Petroleum, Inc. of Chicago will chair the Symposium organized in conjunction of the Expo on Saturday morning, (10 am to 1 pm) at the Biscayne Hall, while Washington, DC attorney Thanos Basdekis of the Law firm of Regan, Helperin & Long will serve as Moderator.

Remarks and commentaries will be offered by the following:

State Senator (Rode Island) ?. Leonid Raptakis;
Howard Kyle, Trade Office, Atlantic County Executive Office;
David Barton, Executive Director Atlantic County International Trade Council;
The Hon. Mike Bilirakis, US Congressman, (R-FL);
Spyro Atzamopoulos, Economic & Trade Matters attache, Consulate General of Greece in NY;
Philip Christopher, Chairman, Audiov?x
The Hon. Jonathan Saidel, City of Philadelphia;
Carol Brooks, Manager of International Trade and Diplomatic Liaison, City of Phila;
Costas Alexakis, CEO, Public Sector Selection,;
Van Kogan, President of the Mid-Atlantic - Russia Business Council;
The Honorable Dimitri Katsikopoulos, Prefect of Achaia;
Larissa mayor, Dimitrios Tzanakoulis;
George Tsentos, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Thssaloniki;
Themis Kartsiotis, CEO of HELLEXPO;
Manolis Meletis, Director of the Evoia Chamber of Commerce;
Chris Christakis, Chairman USGBAC

Receiving the Hermes Awards this year during the Gala Dinner event Saturday evening are VOA Greek Bureau chief, journalist George Bistis, US Rep. Mike Bilirakis (R-FL), Rev. Dr. Dimitrios Constantellos, 2004 US ?ens Rowing Gold Medalist Jason Read.

AHI Executive Director Kick Larygakis will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. It must be noted that networking between Hellene and American businesspeople and industrialists will kick-off on April 14th and will extend through the 20th, via structured business meetings, organized by Hermes Expo International to New York, NY, Washington, DC and Philadelphia, PA.

26 West Chester Pike, Havertown, PA 19083
610-446-1463, Fax: 610-446-3189
info@hermesexpo.com www.HermesExpo.com


Sat. April 16, 2005 10 AM -1 PM Sypmosium

1 PM Grand opening

Expo continuous 5 PM

% PM Dinner Awards

Sunday April 17, 2005

10-12 Brunch

12 -6 PM 2nd Day of Exhibition

See you at the Trump Marina in Atlantic City, NJ