The 1st economic forum in Aiani Kozani, under the general title Economy & Culture – Local Strengths & Opportunities, was concluded

The Trade Association of Aianis as a body representing the Business of the local community in co-organization with the Chamber of Kozani, under the auspices of the Federation of Trade Associations of Western & Central Macedonia and the Hellenic Confederation of Trade & Entrepreneurship took the initiative of a new effort to mitigate and deal with of serious issues that concern Aiani and the wider region, in the administrative boundaries of Ancient Elimia.

The Aiani Chamber of Commerce and the Kozani Chamber co-organized in Aiani Kozani on the two days of April 19 and 20, 2024 the 1st economic forum, with the general title: Economy & Culture – Local Strengths & Opportunities, where the presidents of the trade associations presented their opinions and proposals of Western and Central Macedonia, representatives of institutional bodies, scientists and people from the local society.

Sessions included:

1st Session: The Geopark of Grevena – Kozani, the special Geology and Antiquities of Aiani as Factors of Development & Tourist Destination in Western Macedonia
Speakers: Anna Batsi (Geologist MSc, Scientific Manager of the Grevena – Kozani Geopark), Spyros Pavlidis (Professor Emeritus of Geology, AUTH, President of the Aristotle Museum of Physics, History of Thessaloniki, Author) and Grigorios Kontos Philologist).

2nd Session: Open issues and perspectives in the Elimia area:
Rapporteurs: Evangelos Liakos (President of the Chamber of Economic Chamber of Western Macedonia), Stergios Kianas (President of the Technical Chamber of Western Macedonia), Theodoros Siogas (President of the Chamber of Western Macedonia), Antonis Pougaridis.

3rd Session: Historical Aiani & Western Macedonia in front of new Financial Tools & European Programs
Speakers: Ioannis Mitliagas (President of the Kozani Chamber of Commerce & Industry), Konstantinos Dimadis (Member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Confederation of Trade & Entrepreneurship), Anastasios Sidiropoulos (Economist General Manager of ANKO Western Macedonia SA – AOTA) and Konstantinos Nikos Executive Director of University of Western Macedonia).
Presentation: Financing Tools for Small and Medium Enterprises
Speaker: Liana Papaterpou (Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship – Innovation, ANKO of Western Macedonia)

4th Session Civil Society Local Forces, Proposals & Opportunities
Speakers: Alexandros Karagiannis (MSc Visual Artist, Participating Creator in Biennale) Georgia Peleka (Digital Marketing Manager) Christos Giannakopoulos (Biologist, MSc Biotechnology) and Alexandra Tsigana (Msc Pedagogy, University of Western Macedonia)
Presentation: Looking Aiani in the Eyes – Substantive sentences on Aiani’s problems
Speaker: Ioannis Christoforos (Economist, MSc Information Systems)

During the presentations, the possibilities of exploiting the Grevena-Kozani Geopark as a tourist destination and development factor, the prospects for the development of Aiani and the activation of civil society and local forces, the new financial tools and the European programs that can be used for small and small and medium enterprises.

The purpose of the actions of the specific forum is for Historical Aiani to come forward, to expand its business horizons and attract investments, to utilize its huge tourist stock such as the archaeological sites, the archaeological museum, Byzantine temples, etc. and to expand all its business possibilities giving opportunities to the new generation to stay but also to return to their place.

As a follow-up to the First Economic Forum, there will also be local meetings, with the main objective of creating an attractive profile for the region for visitors and at the same time creating new opportunities for investment and business development in the region.

The Economic forum was attended by the Deputy Minister of Macedonia and Thrace, Mr. Stathis Konstantinidis, the Member of Parliament, Mr. Paris Koukoulopoulos, the Vice-Regional Governor for Entrepreneurship and Transport, Mr. Nikos Lyssaridis, the Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Grevena, Ms. Sofia Dimaki, the Member Admin. Council of the Hellenic Confederation of Trade & Entrepreneurship Mr. Konstantinos Dimadis, the President of the Federation of Trade Associations of Western and Central Macedonia Mr. Nektarios Elmaloglou, the President of the Community Mr. Asterios Vavliaras, the head of the faction Kozani Topos na zeis Mr. Haris Kouziakis, the Presidents of the Communities of the wider Region as well as the Presidents of Trade associations and Unions.

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