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The American – Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Alexander Innovation Zone held the Education, Innovation, Entrepreneurship Thessaloniki Conference at Noesis, Science Center and Technology Museum in Thessaloniki, on Monday April 27.

The event focused on the need to adopt a new economic model that will invest in education with an emphasis on innovation and extroversion. The Conference was attended by members of the government and the diplomatic community, young entrepreneurs, members of the business community and students.

Press Release  here

Video from the Event is here

Mr Mpakatselos Speech  here

Mr Fotakis Speech  here

Mr Karatasios Speech here

Mr Nikolaidis Speech here

Mrs Vlachopoulou Speech here

Mr Marmaggelos Speech here

Mrs Amoiradaki Speech here

Mr Anagnostou Speech here

Mr Chatzigianis Speech here

Mrs Panagiotidou Speech here

Mr Loufakis Speech here

Mr Kontarinis Speech here

Mr Vasileiou Speech here

Mr Prokopiou Speech here

Questions here

The American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and its Taxation Committee organized the 11^th Athens Tax Forum, marked by great success and participation, under the title: Taxation versus the contemporary demands of the political, economic and social environment, on April 20, 2015 at the Athenaeum Intercontinental Hotel.

Speakers shared and discussed with participants good governance proposals in view of planned tax measures, both temporary (radical) and structural, aimed to secure fiscal stabilization and trigger economic growth in Greece, entrenched in a deep and prolonged economic crisis.

The Athens Tax Forum 2015 was designed to offer delegates first-hand knowledge of crucial taxation issues and provided the decisive platform for high-level dialogue between the public and the private sectors in Greece. Delegates included distinguished State officials, taxation experts, accountants, consultants, professors, decision and policy makers, and members of the Greek business community.

The Forum produced constructive dialogue, craft practical suggestions, and highlighted valuable proposals to overcome current weaknesses of the national tax system. The Forum, attended by over 350 delegates, focused on those tax policies to be followed that will lead to healthy fiscal positions and economic growth.

Speeches

INTRODUCTION
Stavros Kostas, Chairman Taxation Committee, American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce – speech

SESSION A: SMART TAXATION POLICIES AND CHANGE OF TAX PAYERS CULTURE TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE TAX COMPLIANCE
Friedrich Schneider, Professor, Department of Economics, Johannes Kepler University of Linz – speech
Ioannis Stavropoulos, Managing Partner, Stavropoulos & Partners Law Firm – speech
George Samothrakis, Partner & Chairman, Audit Services SA-Member of the Executive Committee, ASnetwork – speech
Robert Van der Jagt, Head of KPMG EU Tax Centre – speech

SESSION B: INDIRECT TAXES STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT CONSOLIDATION WITH RESPECT TO THE FINANCIAL GOALS, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT
Evgenia Zontanou, Commercial Finance Director Diageo Hellas – speech
Eirini Gialouri, General Director, Customs and Excise Tax, Ministry of Finance – speech
Iakovos Kargarotos, Vice Chairman, Papastratos – speech
Gregory Tapinos, Senior Partner & General Manager, KEY Consultants – speech

SESSION C: SEEKING THE IDEAL TAX SYSTEM PROFILE IN THE CRUCIAL PHASE OF GREEK ECONOMY RESTRUCTURE
Georgios Stamatiou, CPA, Vice Chairman, SOL S.A. – speech
Maria Trakadi, Partner, Tax Leader, Deloitte Greece – speech
Agis Moschovakos, Senior Manager, PwC – speech
Panagiotis Pothos, Partner, Kyriakides Georgopoulos Law Firm – speech
Effie Adamidou, Partner, Head of Transfer Pricing Services, KPMG – speech

SESSION D: TAX GOOD GOVERNANCE REINFORCING DEVELOPMENT, ASSURANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC FINANCE
Nigel Pickard, Tax Partner, Deloitte UK London – speech
Mary Psylla, Partner, Tax Leader, PwC – speech
Giuliana Polacco, Partner, Studio Professionale Associato, Baker & McKenzie – speech
Theodoros Skouzos, Managing Partner, Iason Skouzos & Partners Law Firm – speech
Christiana HJI Panayi, Senior Lecturer in Tax Law, Queen Mary University of London-Guest Lecturer, Altium Training in Athens – speech

Simos Anastasopoulos, President of American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce discusses the Greek debt crisis on “Bottom Line”

Video link here

More than 800 US citizens registered for the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce US Expats Tax Seminars on March 9+10 2015 at the Cotsen Hall of the American School of Classical Studies, including thousands of Greek Americans, who live in Greece. The need for US citizens in Greece to become informed about their US tax filing obligations was evident and many US citizens in Greece had the opportunity to become properly informed on the unique tax filing and bank report obligations of U.S. citizens working or living abroad. The presentation followed a Q&A session.

Full Article here

The American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce in Thessaloniki held its annual New Year’s Reception on February 16, 2015 at Τhe ΜΕΤ Hotel.

The Reception, attended by several hundred guests, brought together Chamber members, leading government officials, members of Parliament, members of the diplomatic community, organization presidents, media and prominent executives of the business community who enjoyed a pleasant and rewarding networking event. Welcome remarks were made by Simos Anastasopoulos, President of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, Nikolaos Bakatselos, Vice President of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and President of the Northern Greece Committee, Mr. Robert P. Sanders, the Consul of the United States in Thessaloniki, Mr. Terens Quick, Deputy Minister of State for the Coordination of Government Project, Mr. Demetris Mardas, Alternate Minister of Finance and Mr. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Head of the Periphery of Central Macedonia.

Greetings Remarks from Amcham President Simos Anastasopoulos

Greetings Remarks from Mr. Sanders

Greetings Remarks from Mr. Mpakatselos