The new Library of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA) was inaugurated. According to a related announcement, the inauguration ceremony took place yesterday, Wednesday, September 25th, at the “Konstantinos Michalos” Business Center of EBEA. In her speech, the Deputy Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, Zetta Makri, stated: “It is an honor for me to have been invited by the President of EBEA, Sofia Kounenaki Efraimoglou, to inaugurate, together with the Deputy Minister of Development, Zoe Rapti, the reopening of the Chamber’s Library in its new space, hosting the significant archive, notable publications, and the documentation of the entirety of Greek entrepreneurial activity.”

“The inauguration of the EBEA library is yet another step towards the new era of the Chamber, a step that is firmly rooted in the organization’s history, learning from it, processing it, utilizing it, and recognizing it as the strong foundation for its dynamic presence and future. The pillar of domestic entrepreneurial initiative must prioritize both the education and development of its members and the communication and engagement with the public in an open, outward-looking, and interactive process. I hope the Library will attract dedicated visitors and become a center of research into EBEA’s capabilities, work, and contribution to Greek entrepreneurship,” Makri added.

Deputy Minister Rapti remarked that “EBEA’s investment in creating a Library, which can serve as an information hub for entrepreneurs and any interested citizen, once again confirms the important and historical role of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry in supporting entrepreneurship and economic growth in Greece.”

In her speech, Sofia Kounenaki Efraimoglou emphasized that the EBEA Library will function as a hub of knowledge and lifelong learning, while also establishing the Business Center as a node for innovation, collaboration, and knowledge.

“It essentially represents the evolution of a collection of books and printed material, the core of which was created with the founding of the Chamber. It is a specialized Library that includes more than 5,000 volumes of monographs, as well as periodicals, primarily in Greek but also in foreign languages. It contains the entirety of EBEA’s publishing activity, as well as old and rare editions, some dating back to the early 20th century or even earlier. The subjects primarily cover trade, industry, economics, business, management, law and legislation, and history. This material is now organized here, in a new, specially designed space that meets high standards of functionality. The EBEA Library is once again active, ready to meet the needs of both members and the broader public with quality. We hope it will function as a living entity, a source of knowledge, information, and inspiration for all,” noted EBEA’s President, while concluding her speech by thanking everyone involved in the project’s realization.

Recognition of EBEA’s Honorary Vice Presidents

Following the inauguration, a ceremony was held to recognize EBEA’s Honorary Vice Presidents, including Christina Sakellaridi and Ioannis Syngelidis, Honorary General Secretary Alexandra Palli Giannakopoulou, as well as honorary members Ioannis Granitsas, Dimitrios Danilatos, Alkis Iliadis, Panagiotis Koutsikos, Athanasios Kostopoulos, Georgios Leousis, Makis Batis, Ioannis Papageorgakis, Kleovoulos Salliarelis, Antonios Sgardelis, Minas Tanes, and Dimitrios Tsimpoukis.

Presenting the honorary awards, Efraimoglou stressed: “Today, we honor individuals who have contributed to EBEA and the chamber institution, who, through their multifaceted actions, have significantly promoted trade, industry, and business excellence. This honorary distinction highlights their role as role models for younger generations of entrepreneurs, promoting the value of continuous professional development and social contribution.”