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.