In a festive atmosphere and the presence of members and friends of the Hellenic-Dutch Commercial and Industrial Association, the Jingle & Mingle Christmas event took place in the Old Market in Filothei. The Board of Directors, the President Yiannis Kantoros, the Vice President Marianna Politopoulou, the General Secretary Giorgos Arkadis, the Treasurer Panagiotis Baras and the Members etc. Georgios Kotsalos, Alexandros Danielidis, Costas Maggioros, Alice Korovesi, Sofoklis Giannakou and Georgios Hatzopoulos, as well as representatives of member companies, were present.

Mr. Yiannis Kantoros presented the Association’s new initiatives and stated: “In an era of successive crises, the Hellenic-Dutch Association is called upon to actively contribute to the strengthening of bilateral relations between Greece and the Netherlands, being a dynamic “platform” for the strengthening of entrepreneurship between the two countries. For example, some of the issues that were deemed important and recently decided by the Board of Directors are the digital upgrade, the undertaking of actions to utilize the experience and know-how that exists in the member companies for the benefit of the new generation, as well as the integration of Sustainable practices Development through the creation of a corresponding Committee”.

The event was welcomed by the Ambassador of the Netherlands Ms. Susanna Terstal, who emphasized that “our mission is to promote freedom, security and prosperity in combination with the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries. Economic cooperation, migration and climate are our focus areas. Together with HeDA we stimulate bilateral trade, healthy entrepreneurship and sustainable economic development with an eye on society and the environment.”

The representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Mrs. Martin also shared warm words with the members.

The event was also graced by the presence of the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Mr. Kostis Hatzidakis, who underlined that “we did a lot beyond our pre-election promises. The reduction of unemployment, the increase of the minimum wage, the large intervention in EFKA cannot be disputed. There is clear progress because our government has not tried to reinvent the wheel, nor has it engaged in theoretical pursuits. We want to be practical, specific and useful and we achieved that. We will continue in the same direction, investing in a social policy with results in 2023 and after the next elections.”

The event ended in the pleasant atmosphere of the welcoming space of the Old Market, with Christmas tunes, an excellent menu and of course, the happy mood of members and friends.

Against the backdrop of a highly festive ambiance, HeDA friends and members were happy to see each other, two years after their last physical meeting, to welcome the newly elected BoD and its new President Yiannis Kantoros.

Members and friends who gathered at the lovely garden of Balthazar thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and the music while savoring delicious finger food and sipping refreshing drinks, exchanging ideas and discussing ways to work closer together and also getting to know the new members.

HeDA wishes you all a relaxing summer – stay healthy and safe.

HeDA is leading the future!

We drove electric and hybrid cars, leading the way towards the future of mobility

On Thursday November 21st, starting from Kifissia, and specifically the COCO-MAT store, members of the Hellenic-Dutch Association of Commerce & Industry drove the electric future of mobility! Together with them, οn this interesting route, was LeasePlan Hellas, the leading car-as-a-service company.

Everyone who had the opportunity to drive the electric and hybrid cars had a unique experience through which the future of mobility was unveiled. In this special event, organized by LeasePlan, participants, including Managing Directors of Hellenic-Dutch Association of Commerce & Industry member companies as well as a representative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, discovered what’s next in building a sustainable future. After all, HeDA is always “open” and ready to embrace every new trend, innovation and technology.

All participants were satisfied and excited about what the future holds. May mobility soon become greener and may we always have the pleasure and scope to get acquainted with new trends.

It was in a highly festive mood that the annual pita-cutting celebration for 2019 unfolded in the hospitable and cosy “Aethrion” of the Athens Hilton Hotel in the presence of HeDA friends and members. The Association’s 11-member Board, BoD President Konstantinos Maggioros, Vice-President Marianna Politopoulou, Gen.Secretary Panagiotis Baras, Treasurer George Arkadis, and members George Kotsalos, Alexandros Daniilides, Jean-Francois Etienne, Kanaris Papanastasopoulos, Yannis Kantoros, Vassilis Stavrou and George Thomaidis, as well as the representatives of 80 member-companies, were all there.

Mr. K. Maggioros, elaborating on the mission of HeDA, stated: “I am really pleased given our Association is pursuing its work and is developing into a dynamic institution that is supportive of the market and the national economy of Greece. Today, 25 years since it was founded, HeDA has 151 active members, i.e. businesses representing various fields and sectors, such as commerce, manufacturing, insurance, exports, services and shipping. We are growing steadily, our vision still the same, aiming to act as a powerful institutional paragon, to promote and enhance bilateral trade relations between Greece and the Netherlands.” He, moreover, referred to the close ties between HeDA and the Dutch Embassy, the two working together on the occasion of Posidonia 2018 while promoting and supporting events, meetings and workshops.

In his brief speech, His Excellency the Ambassador of the Netherlands, Mr. Caspar Veldkamp, expressed his fervent wish that Greece continue its successful path with further good practices and growth.

Deputy Minister to the Greek PM Dimitris Liakos, who underscored HeDA’s significant contribution and its constructive cooperation with the State, also graced the event with his presence.

At the end of the event, the traditional New Year’s lucky pita-cutting gave 20 of the guests the chance to walk away with unique gifts offered generously by FrieslandCampina Hellas, Elais-Unilever Hellas, AB Vassilopoulos, KLM, Philips Hellas, Coral Shell, Carglass Greece, Athenian Brewery, NN Hellas and Interamerican.

Last but not least, many thanks go out to the collaborators of the event, Hilton Hotel for its exceptional hospitality and audio system provider FREI Congress.