The inaugural General Assembly of SOKEE, a non-profit organization that represents the Greek exhibition industry, took place on Friday 8 July 2022 at the Metropolitan Expo Centre in Athens.
Representing in total over 1,500 companies, 4,400 employees and a €225 million turnover, SOKEE is set to communicate the importance of trade fairs and exhibitions for the Greek economy. The sector’s significant multiplier economic effect for the Greek economy translates into over €1 billion for a multitude of collaborating sectors such as tourism, catering, conferences, transport, customs clearance, and many others, while yielding respective tax revenues to the government.
According to the Greek Foundation for Economic & Industrial Research (IOBE), the average international visitor of trade fairs spends €1,150 per visit, while often staying in the country for tourism purposes beyond the duration of the event. In cities with major exhibition centers, exhibitions create approx. ¼ of the total overnight stays in the city. Moreover, a UFI study about the economic impact of exhibitions estimates that every square meter of exhibition space contributes an approximate revenue of €7,900 to the economy.
The exhibition industry was one of the most affected by the pandemic, due to an 18 month-long ban, and was perhaps the industry that was the worst hit. It was this prolonged shut down that underlined the need for a “common voice” that would highlight the sector’s requirements and become the official intermediary between the market and the state, contributing to the establishment of synergies that will benefit the Greek economy.
The Association’s Board of Directors is comprised of the following members:
President Theodore Vokos, Posidonia Exhibitions SA
Vice-President Kyriakos Pozrikidis, TIF – HELEXPO SA
Secretary General Evangelos Charalambous, Be Best
Treasurer Evangelos Galatsopoulos, Expowork SA
Member Sofoklis Iosifidis, Interform SA
Member Alexis Lagoudakis, Metropolitan Expo SA
Member Athanasios Panagoulias, Forum SA
SOKEE President Mr. Theodore Vokos, stated: “The Association’s main purpose is to represent the industry’s professionals at decision-making fora and to contribute to the formation of those decisions which may affect the efficient functioning of this dynamic sector. Our sector is of utmost importance to main pillars of the Greek economy, including tourism, f&b, and transport, while it plays a significant role in our country’s extroversion mainly through the global projection of the Greek primary sector, products and innovation.”
For more information, please contact the SOKEE secretariat, Email sokee@sokee.gr, Tel. +30 210 4283608.