Greek Embassy hosts reception on Entrepreneurship and Innovation

From left, journalist Keri Douglas, Ambassador Christos Panagopoulos, and GAEA’s CEO Aris Kefalogiannis

Ambassador Christos Panagopoulos hosted an event on November 5 to introduce the “Re-Inspire Greece from the Youth Up” initiative that aims to substantially support youth, innovative agro-entrepreneurship in Greece, and tackle the staggering 65% youth unemployment that impacts the country’s efforts to return to growth and social prosperity.

Officials from the State Department and the Department of Commerce, representatives from leading business and innovation organizations, key Greek Diaspora figures, media executives and other opinion leaders gathered in the Greek Embassy to find out about a unique initiative that offers real and tangible tools for the Greek youth to rediscover the opportunities that lie in the agro-sector.

reinspiregreece.com.

Ambassador Panagopoulos outlined the importance of reconnecting the economy with education and innovative entrepreneurship in order for Greece to return to growth. “Our goal is to encourage, to support, and to promote the production of new knowledge and turn it into a driving force for our economy,” he said, underlining that Greek entrepreneurship is gaining momentum in the years of the crisis.

“Re-Inspire Greece from the Youth Up” was created by the leading international Greek food company GAEA, the American Farm School in Thessaloniki, Piraeus Bank, celebrity Iron Chef Cat Cora and RSM International. It is supported by leading organizations in Greece and the United States.

This pioneering initiative aims to stimulate youth to envision and set-up their own agri-projects by offering to each of the 10 best business plans the necessary seed capital of EUR 25,000 as well as invaluable mentoring and support from GAEA’s panel of business experts and global distribution network that will ensure the sustainability of their undertaking.

The initiative is funded by the limited sale of an exceptional extra virgin olive oil that has crossed the Atlantic all the way from the tiny island of Antiparos in the heart of the Aegean. “Agrilia Estate – Antiparos” olive oil is endorsed by celebrity Chef Cat Cora and is designed as a stylish gift that can be purchased at reinspiregreece.com and delivered across the United States.

GAEA’s CEO Aris Kefalogiannis stressed the importance of focusing on result and substance to engage in a broader partnership that will move beyond analysis and inspiration, and will provide real solutions and opportunities for the Greek youth.

Keri Douglas, a strategic communicator, an Arts, Business and Innovation blogger, and an early believer in the initiative, said that “Re-Inspire Greece is a model for other business communities to follow, to encourage young entrepreneurs and inspire new ideas and new businesses. GAEA is an extraordinary innovative global leader investing in Greek entrepreneurs through this business to business initiative.”

For more information please visit reinspiregreece.com.