Hellenic Foreign Trade Board
The Hellenic Foreign Trade Board - HEPO is the organization officially responsible for implementing the national export policy of Greece. It is a non-profit organization that functions under the supervision of the Hellenic Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The Organization's role is to direct, encourage, guide and support Greek enterprises in all their export activities, to promote Greek products and services abroad and to improve their image as well as to increase the volume and varieties of exportable products. Also, HEPO acts as the liaison between Greek enterprises and their potential partners worldwide, in order to facilitate trade networking and alliances and paves the way for trade communities around the world to experience and recognize the competitive advantages of partnering with Greece. HEPO's approach can be described as an outward and forward approach: Outward in the sense of supporting Greek companies in their efforts to partner with companies abroad and forward in the sense of extending trade relationships in all markets.
HEPO mainly focuses on:
- Designing and coordinating activities for Greek enterprises to expand their business into foreign markets
- Promoting best-practices in line with the national export policy of Greece
- Developing and applying particular know-how in matters of export policy
- Evaluating partnerships in foreign markets and pursuing matching opportunities between Greek and foreign enterprises
- Encouraging and assisting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in entering international markets
In order to successfully promote Greek products and services abroad and to facilitate trade networking and partnerships, HEPO organizes a wide range of activities, such as:
- Participation in major international fairs and exhibitions: HEPO represents Greece and its export potential at leading international fairs and exhibitions around the world. Networking opportunities, business conferences, themed product presentations, as well as on-going events, all take place to benefit Greek businesses and their foreign trade partners.
- Road shows and trade missions: HEPO regularly coordinates road shows and trade missions abroad. Direct communication with business enterprises, Chambers of Commerce and Trade Associations develops a basis for the exchange of information and cooperation, as well as improves import - export strategies for all parties involved.
- Other HEPO activities include symposia, conferences, conventions, in-store promotion activities as well as the newly launched match making programs, which are mainly designed for SMEs and involve inviting important buyers and distribution networks from targeted markets, in order to foster close relations between them and Greek companies and to allow profitable partnerships to flourish.
Furthermore, HEPO provides Greek companies with valuable information regarding exports, offers consulting services and organizes training programs for exporters. Through all these activities, HEPO successfully acts as the trade bridge between Greek and foreign companies.
It should lastly be noted that, in order to successfully meet its goals, HEPO cooperates with its counterpart organizations in the European Union and the International Unions of Foreign Trade Organizations, with the Departments of Finance and Trade of Greek embassies around the world and with Chambers of Commerce and relevant National Associations.
