Meeting of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the Board of Directors of TIF-HELEXPO. Significant progress on the redevelopment project. A new era for TIF.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke of the very significant progress made over the past year on the redevelopment project of the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), during his customary meeting with the Board of Directors of TIF-HELEXPO at the opening of the 90th anniversary edition of TIF. He stressed that the major challenge now is to adhere to the project’s timetable. He described the redevelopment plan as visionary, both for the Fair and for the city of Thessaloniki.
Addressing the Prime Minister, TIF-HELEXPO Chairman Christos Tsenemeidis referred to the systematic and methodical work carried out over the past year to move the vision of the redevelopment project into the implementation phase. “One year ago, having listened to the wishes of the local community, you announced the adaptation of the plan for the New TIF. Your political choice was clear: the institution remains at its historic location, and the project is moving forward with public funding. A modern, bioclimatic exhibition and conference centre is being created, while at the same time TIF is opening up more to the city, with a large green space that will become part of citizens’ everyday lives,” he noted.
He further stressed that the new TIF-HELEXPO administration had undertaken responsibility for adapting the preliminary studies, coordinating the ten critical institutional bodies, and transforming this political decision into a mature and implementable project, also through close cooperation with the National Development Fund and the Strategic Contracts Unit.
For his part, TIF-HELEXPO CEO Andreas Mavrommatis presented the key features of the 90th TIF, highlighting its stronger commercial dimension, Japan’s participation as the Honorary Country, and its anniversary character, given that 100 years have passed since the first edition was held in 1926.
He also presented in detail the three strategic pillars for the company, which is currently undergoing a transformation: redevelopment, governance and growth. Referring specifically to the redevelopment project, he noted that the company would ensure that exhibition activity would not come to a halt during the construction of the New TIF.
“For us, this is not merely an operational priority. It is also important for the city itself, as any substantial interruption of exhibition activity would inevitably have a negative impact on the economy of Thessaloniki,” he explained.
The meeting was preceded by a blessing ceremony marking the opening of the 90th TIF, presided over by Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki.
Following the meeting with the Board of Directors of TIF-HELEXPO, the Prime Minister made his customary tour of the TIF pavilions, including Pavilion 17, where research meets technology and education, and Pavilion 13, which hosts Japan’s participation as the Honorary Country, as well as the exhibition’s new thematic section, “Economy.”
Inauguration of the Japanese Pavilion
Japanese Ambassador Koichi ITO described Japan’s participation in the 90th TIF as an important beginning of a new chapter in Greece-Japan relations, stressing that it was a particular honour for his country to have been invited to participate as the Honorary Country at TIF at such a landmark moment.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, for his part, noted that Greece is ready to welcome more investment from Japan and invited Japanese investors to view the country as an investment destination, as it serves as a natural gateway to Southeastern Europe.
At the inauguration of the Japanese Pavilion, the Taiko performance featuring traditional Japanese drums impressed the audience.
