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On the occasion of the Greek Revolution of 1821 bicentennial, it is worth carefully examining both the achievements of Greece during these past 200 years, but also the challenges and difficulties that the country has encountered during the course of its history. This year Greece is celebrating the Revolution, but at the same time it also marks 200 years of economic survival, making the debate on public debt and lending crucial in relation to the lessons from the past, the present strategies and the vision for the future.
The Economist Events are pleased to announce the organization of a virtual event on "GREECE: 200 YEARS OF ECONOMIC SURVIVAL" scheduled to take place on April 8th, 2021, providing the background for an open dialogue on interesting aspects of Greece’s contemporary economic and banking history, with useful comparisons and parallelisms between the past and the present during a period of contemplation, especially now in the vortex of the covid-19 pandemic.
Topics to be discussed include:
• 200 years of contemporary Greece
• Greece is celebrating an anniversary. With a sustainable debt?
• Greek public debt: a tale of two centuries
• Business and investment against the backdrop of a high fiscal debt
• 2009 – 2015: The story of dealing with greece’s debt and bail-out
• Greece’ s self reflection: failures of the past, lessons for the future
Sponsors

Optima bank was launched on July 31st, 2019, following the acquisition of Investment Bank of Greece (est.2000) from Ireon Investments, a fully subsidiary of “MOTOR OIL" Group. Offering retail and corporate banking services, the bank's line of business includes investment banking, brokerage, factoring, and mutual funds.
The implementation of its strategic investment plan is based on the creation of a simple, flexible and contemporary bank, that responds directly and effectively to the needs of both individuals and businesses. Introducing a different approach that will change the perception of Greek banking, Optima bank aims to transform the banking transaction into a pleasant experience by offering simple and modern banking products and personalized services.
At Optima bank they build relationships of trust through a human-centered approach focusing on transparency, flexibility, optimism and simplified everyday procedures for their customers. The name “Optima” expresses the central message and philosophy of the bank, that aims to deliver the best (optimum) banking experience to individuals and businesses. Through simple, practical, modern and flexible products and services, focusing on people and their needs, Optima bank strives to build long-lasting relationships of mutual trust with its customers, offering a new banking experience.
Today, Optima bank has 360 employees in the full range of its activities and 25 branches.

AQUA Carpatica Natural Sparkling Mineral Water α nitrate free water & AQUA Carpatica Mineral Water with minimal nitrates (0.6mg/l) combining taste and pleasure.
AQUA Carpatica comes deep from the Carpathian Mountains, an ancient land where time seems to stand still leaving only the pristine beauty of nature and history. Millions of years of volcanic activity have filtered impurities at the source, endowing AQUA Carpatica’s water with its unrivaled flavor. The company’s sparkling mineral water is naturally carbonated by ancient subterranean volcanoes, not machines. Over 650 feet under the earth, a blanket of metamorphic rock protects the water as it mixes with underground CO2, giving AQUA Carpatica its unique, nature-made bubbliness.
AQUA Carpatica flows from the protected Paltinis Spring, in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, where it’s bottled responsibly at the source. Also, in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains another, pristine spring water flows underground from the protected Bajenaru Spring. AQUA Carpatica spring water is responsibly captured to naturally preserve its ideal mineral content, balanced pH, and unmatched pure taste. The brand has received more than 48 awards for its Quality and Taste.

28 years since its establishment, Alba Graduate Business School, has had a deep impact on the business education landscape in Greece.
Born to address the pressing needs for professional management skills, Alba strives for excellence, quality and continuous innovation in research and teaching. Its long-lasting mission is to educate the visionary leaders of tomorrow who will act as agents of change and help shape the future business.
Alba is accredited by NECHE. All Alba MBAs are accredited from the Association of MBAs (AMBA), while MSc in finance and MSc in SHRM are EPAS accredited.
Currently the business school offers 10 master’s programmes and 3 MBAs. Among them, a premium Executive MBA programme tailored to the needs of senior and upper-level executives with achievement record, leadership potential, and intellectual curiosity.
Its uniqueness lies in the real-time transformation it offers, mainly through its faculty, which comes from premier international business schools, such as Harvard, Wharton, INSEAD, LBS, IMD, LSE, SDA Bocconi etc. and the strong network of carefully selected peers coming from diverse functional and industry backgrounds.
The Alba Executive MBA programme has a modular structure that evolves around five strategy themes: Big picture challenges, business fundamentals, development of personal and organization capabilities and, finally, renewing the business. All 5 themes contain courses that engage with digital transformation from a strategic point of view.
EMBA has a programme-long combination of coaching, 360-degree assessments and team activities, aimed to help senior executives to foster their own authentic leadership approach. At the same time it features an unusually holistic innovation view which spans technology-based, marketing-driven, process-based, and business model innovation.

diaNEOsis is a non-profit think-tank based in Athens, Greece. The institute publishes academic research and policy recommendations, conducts in-depth investigative journalism reports and produces open data research and related projects. diaNEOsis' vision is to contribute meaningful arguments and data to the public discourse and to promote policies that can lead to economic growth while protecting social cohesion. The institute appeals to the creative forces of society, all those who wish to objectively and rationally understand the state of the world around them and engage in the development of a modern, creative and prosperous society. diaNEOsis addresses all those directly or indirectly involved in shaping and implementing policy: Τhe government, members of parliament, business leaders, the academic and research community, students, NGOs and the media. Some of the institute's main areas of focus include: Investments, Taxation, Employment, Technology and Innovation, Environment, State, Public Administration, Institutions and the Political system, Poverty and Inequality, The Welfare State - Health and Insurance, Education and Training, Justice.

QUANTOS S.A. is a data analytics firm. The company started its operations in 1997 in France and provides full services to the private sector and European organisations. It operates from Greece and maintains a large network of collaborators and links with academic institutions and research centres in the EU. QUANTOS' consultants are experts in data science and use a variety of commercial and open source software tools. The company is especially competent in methodological issues and big data handling and has participated in EU research projects and in international projects.
Particular areas of expertise are:
- Consulting Services for Eurostat and other European Commission directorates general
- Data and Text Mining
- Banking and Finance Solutions
- Training and e-Learning
- Quantitative estimation of Risk of Re-identification of individual persons or enterprises in (pseudo) anonymized datasets
The company provides high quality services and has developed lasting cooperations at European level. It has delivered e-learning courses in statistics for many countries in the Mediterranean area and has ongoing projects in complex, regulated statistical topics.
QUANTOS' solutions in Banking and Finance include solutions for:
- Value-at-Risk (VaR) calculation
- Credit scoring and risk monitoring
- Real estate collateral portfolio evaluation
- Data/ text mining applications (attrition modelling, customer life cycle analysis, fraud detection, complaints management and general text classification, analysis of textual survey data)
- Data cleansing (standardization and de-duplication of databases)
- Risk control in confidential datasets

The Hellenic Observatory (@HO_LSE) is internationally recognised as one of the premier research centres on contemporary Greece and Cyprus. It engages in a range of activities, including developing and supporting academic and policy-related research; organisation of conferences, seminars and workshops; academic exchange through visiting fellowships and internships; as well as teaching at the graduate level through LSE's European Institute.

The British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce (BHCC), founded in Athens in 1945, is an independent, non-profit organization, whose main purpose is to promote and strengthen bilateral business relations between Greece and the UK. BHCC is funded solely by income from membership fees and sponsorships from organised events and related initiatives. The BHCC promotes its members’ interests both in Greece and the UK.
BHCC is also a strategic member and partner of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) in the UK.
Recognizing that it is standing at a crossroads of a new normality arisen from coronavirus pandemic and which is characterized by the accelerating use of digital technologies, the transformation of business models, the emphasis on sustainability, the BHCC has recently formulated a new Strategic Plan to further strengthen its presence and provide more targeted services to its members:
▪ Following the end of the transition period and the achievement of the Trade and Cooperation Framework Agreement (TCA) between EU and the UK at the end of 2020, the BHCC has been closely cooperating with the Greek Government, the British Embassy in Athens, as well as with various organizations and Chamber partners to determine a strategy and an action plan relating to future bilateral business relations between the UK and Greece. In addition, it cooperates with BCC to provide and convey detailed information related to the TCA from the British side.
▪ BHCC has recently announced the launch of targeted Working Groups whose objectives briefly are: organize targeted initiatives, exchange expertise/opinions/future trends with the UK, advance the interests of its members. The following Working Groups have been set up: Overall GR – UK future business relations / Economic Policy / Public Affairs, Real Estate-Hospitality-Tourism, Insurance, Energy, Shipping, Technology & Start Ups, Trade (Exports & Imports), while additional groups will be examined (such as Financial Services – Fintech) to address specific needs.
All these groups will incorporate the following three key pillars: ESG (Environmental – Sustainability – Governance), Investments and Innovation.
▪ BHCC plans to play a key role in facilitating investors from the UK having access to all necessary information and local partnerships, so as to take advantage of the significant investment opportunities in Greece over the coming years.
▪ BHCC provides networking opportunities to its members, organizing -when health conditions allow- high-profile popular physical events.
▪ Distribution of BHCC Newsletter. The objective is to regularly update BHCC members on Chamber activities, provide them with news/ announcements from the UK and Greek Governments, as well as the BCC, give members the opportunity to communicate with other members by sharing their news and views.
The BHCC is committed to contributing to Greece’s recovery and to becoming a pillar of growth for the Greek – UK business relations, a valuable liaison between the two governments.
25, Vas. Sophias Avenue
GR-106 74 Athens
Tel: 210 7210361
E-mail: info@bhcc.gr
Web: www.bhcc.gr
Member & Strategic Partner of the British Chambers of Commerce - www.britishchambers.org.uk

WIND Hellas is one of the largest telecommunications companies in Greece. Since WIND was established, 25 years ago, it has been consistently investing in technology, providing integrated mobile, fixed and internet solutions to its customers. Always in the forefront of the evolution, WIND delivers innovative communication and technology solutions that improve the way its customers live, work, learn and play.
Believing in the power of a modern interconnected world, everything is possible when connectivity is assured. Therefore, WIND implements one of the largest private investment projects in Greece. Particularly, as part of its 500 million euros investment plan 2016-20 for the development of new generation networks, WIND focuses on ultra-high speed networks, both in mobile (4G, 4G+), and fixed (VDSL, FTTx).
Meanwhile, WIND has launched its own streaming TV service. WIND VISION is a new Android TV that takes user experience into the next level. It brings together a wealth of on demand streaming and user generated video content and traditional TV channels, into an open platform. A unique user interface that integrates innumerous entertainment options –first to integrate Netflix through a strategic partnership– and connects users to the content of their choice, in a multiscreen mode. Thus WIND has become a major convergence player providing solutions to its customers in mobile, fixed, internet and TV content.
Top customer experience
Driven by its commitment to offer an excellent communication and outstanding user experience, WIND is constantly evolving its infrastructure. Customer experience is a strategic priority at all levels and shapes each activity at all contact points with customers. The new retail flagship stores, the broader business partnerships and the online platforms are playing a key role in improving customer experience at a 360° level.
Giving back to our community
WIND offers communication solutions equally to all citizens of Greece, regardless of commercial, geographical or other boundaries, through the greatest possible value for money products and services for its customers. Meanwhile, the company stands out for its social contribution, through a multi faced Corporate Responsibility programme, with numerous activities focused on the market, the environment, our society and our people.

DHL Express is the largest international express company in the world, with one of the largest fleets of aircraft and the most expansive network that covers over 220 countries and territories worldwide.
In Greece it was the first international courier company to establish itself, and DHL Express (Hellas) SA remains a pioneer, constantly providing new solutions for its customers, solutions that make it the market leader. Whilst maintaining the largest market share, DHL sets very high levels of service and always seeks to serve the customer in the best possible way.
Having a constant presence in the Greek market since 1978, DHL has acquired a deep knowledge of critical shipments as well as unparalleled experience in the specialized handling of express deliveries for each industry sector.
Each shipment is handled in the most professional way by its highly trained personnel, who know well that speed and timely delivery of each shipment at destination cannot be achieved if the integrity of the shipment has not been secured first, at each stage of its passage within the network. To this end, extensive investment in its network on a global as well as a national level has allowed DHL to constantly renew and upgrade its infrastructure in order to meet the increased and varied demands of its customers.
Though an integral part of a global force, DHL Express Hellas recognises the importance of local knowledge. As pioneers of international express, it is from local expertise, experience in customs procedures, constant training of its personnel, always combined with the support of the most developed worldwide network, that DHL draws its strength, and it is these factors that have contributed to its leading market position for over 40 years.

ΑEGEAN and its subsidiary Olympic Air carried 15 million passengers in 2019.
The company has been honored, for the ninth consecutive year and tenth time in the last 11 years, with the Skytrax World Airline award, as the best European regional airline in 2019 and has recently received a 4-star award from Skytrax (4-Star COVID 19 Arline Safety Rating) for hygiene and protection measures from COVID-19.

Pobuca, the customer experience (CX) company
Pobuca offers a go-to-market CX platform for brands and retailers. With Pobuca you can engage your customers and empower your people in sales, marketing, and customer service.
Pobuca is the one-stop-shop to grow your business by leveraging technology. The company offers state-of-the-art AI-based software and a broad range of services like consulting, technical integration, and after-sales support of Pobuca's solutions, aiming your digital transformation.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
“To unleash creativity in the workplace, giving back to the society”.
Pobuca employs Artificial Intelligence technology to undertake the boring tasks and let users do the creative thing. They take on the AI challenge to help them push their boundaries even further, with responsibility towards society and humanity. Their vision is to build a technology company that could leave a global footprint, while helping our society to empower its potential, creativity and forward thinking.

TO VIMA, holds a leading position within Greek news media spectrum through its print and digital editions.

Solely driven by substantial cover of domestic and international news, supported by the most reliable team of journalists, TA NEA is consistently the leading daily evening newspaper.

Agrocapital.gr delivers daily all the news from the farming economy, productivity, technology, research and development.

Artecniko provides “State of the Art” video production, multimedia and Live streaming services that optimally combine technical sufficiency and artistic creativity.
Keeping their standards high and their expectations even higher, Artecniko's team of highly experienced professionals offers a comprehensive range of services of superior quality that ensure impeccable results.
With a strong focus on video production & live streaming events the company can holistically produce, from the capture of the idea and script making, to the final edited material, any style of video 2D to 3D, animation to live action, 360° video to social content.
Artecniko is a company that makes content with impact.
Their videos generate leads, go viral, increase landing page conversions, inspire trends on social media and communicate the selected message to the specific audience that makes a business grow!
They function as a hybrid between a high-end creative video production company and an accomplished photography and multimedia company, with a concentrated focus on the end result.
Regardless of the volume, difficulty and complexity of a project, quality is never compromised.

Knowledge is power, economy is the game! This is the motto of our new portal, powergame.gr
PowerGame.gr is the new entry in the digital panorama which hosts the most important events and trends of the financial terrain both in Greece and abroad. In an extremely competitive atmosphere in the media world, the new portal sets as its priority the accurate online information about the economic situation in Greece, highlighting the contemporary trends that define the world economy, based on facts, articles and analysis.
Market news, stock prices, financial data, tax policies, enterprise activity compose the mainstream of our daily influx of information. A carefully selected mix of international news and stories ensures that our visitors will be provided with a global perspective on the world economic and financial developments.
In addition, a special republication of articles -in Greek- from The Economist, underlines the importance of a global, accurate and integrated information.
Also, the participation of key figures that affect the Greek economic activity from various fields such as entrepreneurs, bankers etc. enables us to create an enriched environment towards useful dialogue that will optimize constructive decision making.
PowerGame.gr offers special sections concerning contemporary issues ranging from digital and start ups’ activity, to environmental innovations and automobile and luxury goods.
Our experienced team of journalists and the technical support team guarantee an effective result.


Established in 1994, Hazlis & Rivas is a high profile media and communications company. Its principal activities are conferences, print and digital publications. We are best known as the exclusive representative of The Economist Events for Greece, Cyprus, Malta and Southeast Europe and the official licensee of The World in… Economist annual publication for Greece and Cyprus.
The Economist Group is the leading source of analysis on international business and world affairs. With an indisputable reputation for excellence and editorial integrity, we aim to deliver first class programmes featuring leading thinkers from around the world and cutting edge insights. We stand out for the objectivity of our opinion and provide a unique platform to heads of state, nobel laureates, leaders from business, finance, NGOs and academia to share their expertise.
For further information on the above activities, please visit www.hazliseconomist.com and events.economist.com.