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ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL
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 THE AMBASSADOR                                                                 I         n the wake of Athens Riviera’s evolution, Ioanna Samprakou has

                                                                                          visioned and shaped an economic meeting point with worldwide reso-
                                                                                          nance. Founding the Athens Riviera Forum, she defined the cross-market
                                                                                          essence of the independent, non-profit organization that will lead the

 Ioanna Samprakou, Founder and President                                                  Riviera’s development course. Waiting for ARF’s first annual summit,
                                                                                          the Athens Riviera Summit 2024, the Founder and President of
                                                                                          Athens Riviera Forum initiates us into the dynamic nexus where ideas
 of Athens Riviera Forum fosters                                                          converge and partnerships are forged.
                                                                                          Can you share an overview of the Athens Riviera Forum? What mo-
 Greece’s and the Riviera's dynamic                                              tivated you to establish this organization and what is its core mission?
                                                                                 Athens Riviera Forum (ARF) is an independent, non-profit organization driving
                                                                                 multi-stakeholder engagement and dialogue among business, investment, and polit-
 for international investments.                                                  ical leaders. Its primary focus is on economic cooperation, sustainable development,
                                                                                 and investments, nationally, regionally, and on a global scale.
                                                                                 The establishment of ARF was driven by the metamorphosis of the Athens Rivi-
 Interview by  ELSA  SOIMIRI
                                                                                 era into a leading hub for growth in Southeast Europe, which is reshaping Greece’s
                                                                                 impact in the global investment arena. We envisioned a forum that could serve as
                                                                                 a platform for multilateral economic dialogue and structured interactions among
                                                                                 leading figures, policymakers, investors, and company leaders, having the Athens
                                                                                 Riviera as a both symbolic and integral point of reference.
                                                                                 Through executive, high-level convenings, strategic dialogues and, of course, our
                                                                                 flagship annual summit - the Athens Riviera Summit -, our organization cultivates
                                                                                 constructive collaboration and strategizes insightful discussions with leaders, placing
                                                                                 at the same time the Athens Riviera at the forefront of the relative developments.
                                                                                 The Athens Riviera Summit is your flagship event. Can you provide some in-
                                                                                 sights of this international summit which is to take place in the Athens Riviera
                                                                                 in June 2024?
                                                                                 The upcoming Athens Riviera Summit will take place between 18 - 20 June 2024 at
                                                                                 the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens. It is an international forum for dialogue
                                                                                 and synergies, uniting leaders across the spheres of government, investment, busi-
                                                                                 ness, and institutions, from Greece, Europe, the USA, the Middle East, and beyond.
                                                                                 Under the Auspices of the Ministries of National Economy & Finance, Foreign Af-
                                                                                 fairs, Development, Environment & Energy, Infrastructure & Transport, Tourism,
                                                                                 Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, Interior, the Region of Attica, and the Bank of
                                                                                 Greece, the Summit serves as a hub of convergence among influential stakeholders,
                                                                                 creating an ideal context for multi-participatory dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and
                                                                                 the establishment of strategic alliances, while promoting sustainable investment and
                                                                                 global economic cooperation.
                                                                                 The Athens Riviera Summit initiates the first-ever, official, and high-level dialogue
                                                                                 on the Athens Riviera’s role and impact as a hub for growth in Greece and Southeast
                                                                                 Europe in the period of its structural regeneration, offering a comprehensive over-
                                                                                 view and analysis of the investments and mega-development projects in the Athens
                                                                                 Riviera, bringing together all the involved stakeholders. On this occasion, it sheds
                                                                                 light on Greece’s overall investment landscape, focusing on significant Mergers and
                                                                                 Acquisitions, as well as investment opportunities that reposition our country as a
                                                                                 global center for sustainable investment. Aspiring to deepen global economic syn-
                                                                                 ergies, the International Economic Cooperation Dialogue of the Athens Riviera
                                                                                 Summit emphasizes foreign direct investment (FDI), economic diplomacy, as well
                                                                                 as multilateral and bilateral cooperation, building bridges among representatives
                                                                                 from governments, businesses, and international organizations.
                                                                                 What can we expect from the open dialogue, business interactions and exchange
                                                                                 of knowledge and strategy among the speakers and participants of the Athens
                                                                                 Riviera Summit? And what are the messages you have received so far as Founder
 GEORGE BOLBASSIS                                                                & President of the Athens Riviera Forum?
                                                                                 Through its high-level panel discussions, roundtables, keynote speeches, B2B
                                                                                 & B2G meetings, pitch sessions, the Athens Riviera Symposium, and exclusive
                                                                                 networking opportunities, the 3-day Athens Riviera Summit strengthens multi- >
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