The Israeli Ambassador to Greece, Mr. Noam Katz, visited the Chania Chamber, where he participated in a working meeting with the priority of strengthening Development Cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, through the upgrading of the strategic role of Crete.
The meeting was actively attended by all members of the Administrative Committee of the institutional body of Entrepreneurship, headed by the president, Mr. Antonis Rokakis. The “Chania Prefecture Hoteliers Association” also actively participated in the dialogue, represented by its president and vice president, Messrs. Stamatakis Manolis and Papadakis Kyriakos.
The meeting with the Israeli diplomatic delegation focused on the need to further strategically upgrade Crete’s trade relations with the robust Mediterranean market, which has seen dynamic growth in recent years. Given their geographical proximity, Greece and Israel are natural trading partners and it became clear that there is significant potential for further expansion of cooperation in all sectors.
According to initial estimates, trade between the two countries is expected to triple, from $1.3 billion to approximately $4 billion annually. In comparison, Israel’s trade with Turkey is estimated at $6 billion annually in recent years.
The outgoing entrepreneurs of the agri-food sector and the experienced producers of Crete, with a plan and hard work, manage to overcome the enormous obstacles of successive geopolitical and economic crises, constantly expanding their penetration into the Israeli Market. Particular emphasis during the working meeting was also given to the sensitive issue of water and climate change, for which the Israeli ambassador proposed the possibility of transferring the high know-how and experience of Israeli companies in the crucial sector of desalination.
Furthermore, it was found that the renowned Tourism sector of Crete also has significant scope for additional support, as the preference of Israeli visitors for the destination has been dynamically increasing in recent years, with particular appreciation for the environmental wealth of the island. Greece ranks third in the tourist preferences of Israelis, as it offers them a heightened sense of security, combined with luxury and completeness of the destination. The representatives of the Chamber and the Hoteliers Association requested and received the commitment to support the Israeli ambassador regarding the further strengthening of direct connections between Chania Airport and Israel.
Mr. Antonis Rokakis, President of the Chania Chamber, emphasized after the conclusion of the working meeting: “In my capacity as President of the Greek Cypriot Chambers Network, I informed the Ambassador of Israel, Mr. Noam Katz, for the initiative promoted by the Chamber of Chania, under the auspices of the Greek Government and the Central Union of Chambers of Greece, to co-organize the Mediterranean Development Forum in Chania next autumn. Our aim is to invite all national institutional bodies of entrepreneurship and the economy of all Mediterranean countries, on the topic of Regional Development in the Eastern Mediterranean, as a Bridge of Peace and Prosperity. The initial response of Mr. Noam Katz was positive in supporting the effort and in the coming period, he will explore the possibilities of supporting the strategic initiative from the Israeli side as well.
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