Website www.habc.gr Founded 2012 | Headquarters Athens Type Nonprofit organization | |
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Industry Nonprofit organization, Business, Trade, Investments Area served Greece, Australia, European Union Key people Michalis Bodouroglou (President, HABC), Ioanna Gouvatsou (Director, HABC) | ||
The Hellenic Australian Business Council, or HABC is a non profit trade and investment development agency that supports bilateral business and political relations between Greece and Australia, as well as providing a forum and platform for information exchange via news, announcements and events such as business forums, roundtables, conferences, missions and road shows. The HABC’s mission is to forge stronger business links between Australia and Greece. Members include key economic and political stakeholders in Greece and Australia: corporations, organisations, trade and investment agencies, as well as distinguished individuals from business, politics, government and academia.
Contents
Global network
The Secretariat of the HABC and Director reside in Athens, Greece with branches in Thessaloniki and Heraklion. Meanwhile, strong political and business ties existing in Australia, backed by both the Australian and Greek foreign embassies, as well as leading private enterprises. HABC business partners and members originate from a variety of sectors in both Greece and Australia.
History
The Hellenic-Australian Business Council (HABC) was founded in June 2012 in Athens to connect and support bilateral business relations between Greece and Australia, including private enterprise, organisations, foreign trade agencies and investments, as well as corporations with significant commercial interests in Greek and Australian markets or SMEs striving to do so. The HABC is the first organisation established in Greece that provides a direct platform and network for Greek and Australian companies, business and industry groups, as well as other organisations to have regular exchange on trade imports-exports, and investment issues.
Organisational services
The Hellenic-Australian Business Council (HABC)'s mission is to connect and support bilateral business relations between Greece and Australia, including private commercial enterprises, foreign trade agencies, investors, SMEs, organisations, individuals, political figures, as well as others with significant business interests in the Greek and/or Australian markets - boosting trade. From trade exports and imports, investment opportunities in key sectors relevant to each market, education prospects, to information on starting a business in Australia and Greece, the HABC is a non-profit, non-governmental agency. HABC endorses members and offers them an avenue to connect with the right trade, investment and business partners. HABC’s services include:
Governance
HABC is a Nonprofit organization registered in Greece as an association. It is a non-governmental, non-political association governed by a Board of Directors elected by Members. The Board of Directors, elected for one year from founding members, has the task of attracting new members and driving initiatives and the organisation’s charter. Corporate membership and event sponsorship is the sole source of funding for the Business Council.
Official partners
HABC’s official partners include bilateral Chambers of Commerce (Hellenic-Australian Chambers of Commerce and Industry), the Australian Embassy in Athens, the Greek Embassy in Canberra, Australia, and Consulates throughout the country, as well as official government agencies and organisations that support trade and investment in both countries, such as Invest in Greece and Austrade. Former Australian Ambassador to Greece, Albania and Bulgaria, H.E. Mrs Jenny Bloomfield - Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade ‘Ambassadors’ is an honorary member of the Hellenic Australian Business Council, and was influential in its establishment.
Ms Jenny Bloomfield is Australia's Ambassador to Greece and non-resident Ambassador to Bulgaria and Albania. Here she discusses the strong community links and the growing trade relationship between Australia and Greece. She also discusses Australia's relations with Albania and Bulgaria.