The 4th Pan-Hellenic Congress of Growth of Exports is organised in a environment that even more realises the need for upgrade of our economic extraversion. Besides the exports produce new wealth, ensure the survival and the growth of our enterprises, create new and permanent places of work, new incomes, new sources of government owned income, but also a real possibility of improvement of wage and standard of living.

Today, more from never, the export identity of the country constitutes also her passport for its survival in the globalized reality. Through the aid of her exports a country - in this respect Greece - can gain the critical bet of competitiveness, that constitutes also the key for the strengthening of economy.

As commissioned councillor of Thessalonica’s International Fair- a company that it has put her seal in the organisation high of reports and in the benefit of proportional services – I often come confronted with the export concerns of the Greek businessmen, who even more are considering that in order to survive they should escape from the narrow limits of the Greek market.

However the approach of the foreigner markets is often difficult, specifically when the effort is also cut into pieces without concrete aiming. One of the more effective ways so that communication and contact are developed, which then will lead to commercial collaborations for the Greek enterprises with foreigner counterparts of them, is the attendance in reports of abroad, something that the Greek businessmen know well.

In this point TIF comes to play her role, helping the remainder bodies of state that work to the direction of reinforcement of Greek exports.

I often hear the exporters protesting for the absence evident and national export strategy, in order that in joint action and with effective way is promoted the extraversion of enterprises. We will all agree that realistic policies are required, modern glance and even drawn steps in order that the export profile of our country elects his real dynamics.

We find ourselves in a crucial turning-point. According to the last elements, even if an increase of our exports at 3,7% in 2004 was reported , it was realised reduction of the mean annual tendency the last three-year period. The same moment the Greek imports were increased in annual base at 8,6%, so that the deficit of commercial balance of our country is increased.

Of course the percentage of exports to the imports was formed at 28,3%, that is also the lower percentage of the last five-year period. According to recent report of the European Committee, fundamental cause of the declining exports is the "unsuccessful Greek specialisation in sectors that totter and markets of which the importance declines".

The same moment, an enormous commercial force, China, has begun and made her presence dynamic in the European Union, causing concerns in the European exporters, that find it hard to rival the comparative advantages of Asiatic country as far as the prices concern.

A more general unrest is realised in the frame of European family, that has begun to be mobilised so that it ensures her export future. Natural consequence are the vibrations they also influence our country, that tries to strengthens her place in the international commercial map.

In this point we should all help. We should record the sectors where Greece and her products present comparative advantages and with coordinated efforts to move them in markets that present prospects of growth for the Greek enterprises.

We should create in the big markets of exterior high level of exhibition action for the promotion of the Greek enterprises and their products in fairs, markets and sectors that have dynamics and can offer in the Greek enterprising community exits. Besides the except borders organisation of achieved exhibition can give in participating the possibility of developing a wide mesh of collaborations with companies of abroad.

Of proportional importance are also the exhibition actions that is organised in the interior of our country and for this reason the elements that make them more attractive must be strengthened and are sought as far as the foreigner attendances concern. The effort to this direction has in particular begun and with particular success last year, so much from the HELEXPO that from the TIF in regional level.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Many of the Greek products are characterized by uniqueness and high quality. One of the most characteristic examples constitutes the Cretan products in the sector of diet, which have been recognized internationally for their quality and their uniqueness.

The Cretan production is of exceptional quality. The most excellent climatic conditions of Crete, but also her rich subsoil, encourage the production of big variety of qualitative rural products. Crete has the possibilities of producing more in quantity but also better quality.

At the same time, in all the international congresses becomes report in the quality of Cretan diet, that constitutes the model of the famous Mediterranean diet. We know that her history begins from the very old days even before the neoljthic period.

From the discoveries of the archaeological excavations it appears that ancient Cretans also consumed the same almost products that the current Cretan consumes. In the palaces of mjnoic period they found big pots with the oil of olive, the cerial fruits, the legumes and the honey.

The legumes, the honey, the cheese, the olive oil, the wine, the herbs, are basic components of the daily diet of Cretan, who has bigger duration of life, compared to the mean. Repeated researches that were done internationally, proved that the Cretan diet plays the main role not only for longevity, but also for the prevention of various illnesses.

Surly I am not the first to say that this "publicity" of the contribution of Cretan diet should be connected with the products of diet, with these products that gives birth the Cretan ground. This products, not only need to be appeared, but also to be promoted in the markets of abroad.

For this reason, objective of the co-responsible institutions, not only in local, but also in Pan-Hellenic level, should constitute the growth of picture and comparative advantage of Cretan products in abroad.

Aim of all of us is the appointment of proposals and reflections of enterprises of Crete in the sector of exports, the strategy of growth of exports with accent in the comparative advantage of Cretan products in international level, the redevelopment of the picture of the Cretan enterprises in abroad, but also the appointment of enterprising initiatives and methods that create achieved export enterprises.

At the same time, it is particularly important to develop the particularly near distance of Crete with new markets - objectives. The Cretan enterprises present important advantages of entry in the markets of Middle East, Northern Africa, Cyprus, Asia but also countries of Mediterranean, because of the geographic place of Crete. From the ancient years already, this geographic place elected the island in bridge of ancient big cultures of Eastern Mediterranean with Europe.

Besides , the export prospect and infiltration of rural products at the foreigner markets, of the foods constitute the corner stone of maintenance of growth and cohesion at the Greek countryside. Besides, the alimentary sector is one from the more extrovert sectors of the Greek economy.

Essential certain condition for the growth of our exports is that the quality must maintain from the first stage of production up to the final disposal. In Crete, this is ensured.
Unfortunately however the Cretan products, the Greek products, do not accomplish to find their place in the international market. For years now accent is given in the creation of competitive advantage via low prices, despite via the effort of comprehension and satisfaction of needs of customers.

Simultaneously the Greek enterprises find it difficult to create eponymous products, as well as to invest in them long-lasting in the markets of their interest. For this exists the need of promotion of the identity of Greek products abroad.

The TIF listened for this need and it hurries with the fair program 2005 to contribute for her part in the better representation of Greek enterprises in the except borders markets.

In this frame it organised already two particularly achieved Greek attendances in fairs of Portugal equal in number and Czech Republic. In the beginnings of April Greece made perceptible her presence in the international report of foods and drinks Alimentaria Lisboa, in the first organised Greek enterprising campaign in the Iberian peninsula.

Few days later, with TIF always the vehicle, the Greek enterprising concerns were expressed in the report of structural materials and manufactures IBF, in the Brno of Czech Republic. Our next steps will bring us in the Poznan of Poland in the international fair of foods-drink Polagra, coming September, while in October and November TIF organises the Greek attendances in the international fair of structural materials Tehnoma in the Former Yougoslave Republic of Macedonia and in the international fair of agricultural equipment, foods-drink and packing, Indagra, in Romania.

However I would want to give you a small flavour from the extrovert action that we already have materialised, but also from those that follow. The fair Alimentaria, one from the more important in Europe, became ideal vaulting horse for 25 Greek enterprises that came in contact with enterprises, closed collaborations and opened their horizons in a particularly important market.

Few days later the IBF in Czech Republic signaled the first campaign of TIF in centraleastern Europe, giving the occasion in 13 Greek companies to investigate the soil for potential agreements with their counterparts in the sector of manufactures and structural materials.
The Polagra fair follows, that accepts annually more than 40.000 visitors, between them commercial missions and representatives of bigger chains of supermarkets from all Europe. It is a report that is characterized as leading in the sector of foods and drinks in central and Eastern Europe.

The next movements TIF, that will also complete the exhibition program 2005, are focused in the Balkan neighborhood, where our company activates itself for years, facilitating to them Greek businessmen. The Tehnoma in the Former Yougoslave Republic of Macedonia, fair of structural materials, presents particular interest for the Greek enterprising community. It is characteristic that in 2004 participated 42 Greek enterprises.

Finally, the Indagra, in Bucharest, after the achieved attendance TIF in 2004, that extracted the first reward, could not be absent from the agenda of our company. The big attendance of Greek companies, the enterprising agreements that were achieved, high attendance of the fair, but also rapidly developing market of Romania are the basic reasons for the presence of TIF in the Indagra.

Closing, and GIVEN the recent opening of TIF to all the geographic regions of Greece, besides the traditional field of action, that is to say Northern Greece, I would want to address a call in the enterprises of Crete to be interested and to participate in our campaigns abroad.
In this point I would want to inform you that, in six days from today, the renewed Fair "THRACE 2005" begins its operation and we will have the particular honour to inaugurate it the Minister of Growth k. Dimitris Sioufas, showing factually the interest of the Greek Government for the growth of the Region.

In the frames of the fair and for the first time in her fourteen years of life, two Meetings are organised, in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Growth, the Ministry of Growth and the Prefectoral Self-government of Eastern Macedonia of - Thrace, as also take place and two enterprising missions from the neighbouring countries of Romania and Bulgaria, in order that the Commercial Visitors come in contact and know the Greek products, opening thus a Balkan channel of communication and aid of exports.

The TIF will be found near to the companies of Crete - and not only - via the 5th Pan-Hellenic General Fair "Crete 2005" that we co-organise with the International Exhibition Centre Crete in the Water tanks of Heraklion. As you surely know, it is one of the biggest regional fairs and each year roughly 9.000 visitors visit it, consuming public and professionals with intense commercial interest.

What I can promise, completing my speech, is that we will continue hearing the voices of the Greek exporters, helping where we can with the experience and our know-how, maintaining narrow contact with the per Greece chambers so that we have a better picture for the needs of enterprises and we forge relations with the markets of abroad, and via the bonds of the Economic Offices and Commercial Cases of Greek embassies.

Thank you.