Message from the director

Dear Members & Friends of the He.D.A.,

The Hellenic-Dutch Association for Commerce and Industry constitutes a strong link in the series of relations between Greece and the Netherlands. It has contributed considerably to the development of bilateral commercial and economic relations. It has added a powerful element towards facilitating the promotion of trade and investments between the two countries.

During its relative short existence, the He.D.A. has proved to be an efficient tool for business communities in both countries. With the healthy economic growth displayed by the European Union as a whole, and particular the well above the average economic growth of the Netherlands, the potential is great for expanding commercial exchange in new areas as well as in parallel with traditional areas. However, markets are flourishing in many directions, and the growth opportunities are not necessarily realized automatically.

The so far successful course of the He.D.A. makes us believe that its important role in business development will continue to the mutual advantage and benefit of the two countries. This upgrade Website will prove a useful tool for the function of the He.D.A. and for its members but also for the business people of our two countries. We anticipate future benefits through this site and we urge everyone to use it, thinking, "In the globe of enterprising no one acts alone anymore".

Vassilis N. Varoutas was born in Thessaloniki, 55 years ago, and has studied in the USA, in the University of Uppsala, Sweden and in the Panteion University of Athens. He is an economist by profession. For 11 years he worked as Trade Consultant at the Embassies of Denmark, Finland and Canada and since July 1997 he serves as Executive Director of the Hellenic-Dutch Association for Commerce & Industry. The frame of his work is to implement modern management patterns in order to achieve the best possible final results.