The new major project of ETHEAS, the establishment of the export company “Cooperative Greek Exports S.A.” - COGREXPO S.A., was presented in the framework of the 88th edition of the “International Export Promotion Agency”.ης Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), at an event that took place on Friday afternoon (13/09) at the pavilion of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, in the presence of the Minister, Mr. Kostas Tsiaras, executives of Piraeus Bank, members of parliament and representatives of Agricultural Cooperatives of the country-members of ETHEAS.
The event was attended by, among others, the Secretary General of the Southwestern Democratic Party, Mr. Stavros Kalafatis and the MP for Thessaloniki, Mr. Diamantis Golidakis. From ETHEAS, the President, Mr. Pavlos Satolias, the Vice President A', Mr. Andreas Demetriou, the Vice President B' and President of the export company, Mr. Christos Giannakis, the General Secretary, Mr. Thomas Koutsoupias, the Treasurer, Ms. Mr. Diamando Kritiko, the members of the Board of Directors of ETHEAS and the Export Company, Mr. Athanasios Sotiropoulos, Mr. Spyros Antonopoulos, Mr. Christos Tsitsirigos, Mr. Savvas Argyrakis, Mr. Dimitrios Longizidis, Mr. Stefanos Diakomis, Mr. Lambis Koubridis and Mr. Vasileios Koukourikis. Also present were the Director of EAS Kavala, Mr. Klearhos Sarantidis, the President of the Cretan Union, Mrs. Theano Vrentzou and the General Secretary of the Cretan Association, Mr. The President of the Association of Greek Cretans of Thessaloniki, Mr. Kostas Giannopoulos, President of the Association of Greek Cretans of Thessaloniki, Mr. Costas Giannopoulos.
In the context of the event co-organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and ETHEAS entitled "Exports of Cooperative Products", the Minister, Mr. Kostas Tsiaras, who referred to the establishment of the export company, described it as an absolutely necessary initiative, in order for the added value of Greek products to be transformed into a real and substantial result for the national economy of the country, thus ensuring an increase in the income of our country's producers. "If we really want to invest in the primary sector and highlight our comparative advantages, we need to see how we can enhance their extroversion and create real added value from the added value of Greek products." he said.
In turn, the Secretary General of Rural Development & Food, Mr. George Stratakos, wished "good luck" for the establishment of the export company, assuring at the same time that the entire political leadership of the Ministry of Rural Development & Food stands by the initiatives and objectives of the company, which can open new horizons for our country and lead Greek agricultural products to new markets. "The value system that the cooperative movement expresses is undoubtedly ETHEAS, which is why we stand by its side, as a partner, as an institutional interlocutor, as a fellow traveller, in every effort such as the one it is making today." he said.
Στη συνέχεια, ο ίδιος τόνισε ότι "this step is attempted by the large cooperatives of our country, which have endured over time, developed and decided to join forces and create a powerful tool". Thus, in this context, he expressed his certainty that this initiative will provide an organized outlet for Greek agricultural products, but also create a new basis for targeted synergies and actions between the Ministry of Agriculture and organized farmers.
Subsequently, Piraeus Bank's General Manager of Rural Banking, Mr.Alkiviadis Alexandrou, made a brief intervention, referring to the export company, stating that Piraeus Bank will stand by this new venture, which is taking shape. Characteristically, among other things, Mr Alexandrou said "Piraeus Bank believes that this argument, if built on sound and solid foundations, will be a success primarily for our country and for our national products of high nutritional value, which will be of even greater value internationally. It will create economic value, not to each participating Agricultural Cooperative, but to all those unsung members who toil every day in the field and in the barn, and who deserve to be paid a higher amount than they currently receive for every kilo and litre they deliver to the next link. We will try to take them to the last link in this chain, which is every shelf in every point of sale in every country where we have not yet reached Greek food." In fact, he stressed that in order to achieve the best possible results, the company requires a great deal of seriousness, very good planning, competent management, continuous adaptation to changing geopolitical and economic conditions, a strong attitude and cooperation between the founding and subsequent shareholders of the company.
The cycle of speeches was closed by the President of the company and Vice President of ETHEAS, Mr. Christos Giannakakis, who, speaking about the first actions of the export company, announced that it aims at grouped products, as provided by the business study conducted by Ernst & Young, which stressed that this is a very useful tool, aiming to "to achieve the maximisation of profitability and the increase of sales of the products produced by Greek farmers".
In this context, Mr Giannakakis said that 55% of exports of fruit and vegetables are to very low-income countries and stressed that that "unfortunately we are absent from the high-income countries that consume very large quantities". He added that foreign markets are ready for Greek cooperative products, which meet the requirements of the international market. "The aim of the export company is to create a basket of products, as well as the critical quantity necessary to be accepted as a supplier in order to be able to negotiate with international supermarket chains. He also provided detailed data on certain products to demonstrate the profitability margins that Greek agricultural products can have in many markets from which we are currently absent..
Finally, the President of the export company called on Greek farmers and livestock farmers to become members of organized cooperatives or producer groups, in order to, as he said "to benefit themselves by strengthening their commercial power and increasing their income».
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