Greece seeks DIC advice on knowledge-based economy

The team of seven, led by Deputy Minister of Development Dr Stavros Kalafatis, was given an overview of the information and communications technology cluster’s concept and the related business operations of its parent company, Tecom Investments. The delegation and the DIC management team exchanged views on ways to build up a knowledge-based economy in Greece, while promoting innovation.

Greece is implementing a €4 billion (Dh23bn) competitiveness programme based on innovation and entrepreneurship. An innovation zone is being set up at Thessoloniki in northern Greece that includes a technology park, research institutes, science and technology incubators and a 150,000 square metres IT park.

Delegation members agreed the time was right to pursue investment opportunities in the Middle East’s flourishing technology sector. And they stressed the favourable position of Thessoloniki as a gateway to southeast Europe for GCC-based enterprises. The delegation included Professor Loukas Ananikas, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Northern Greece, Professor George Tsiotras, Secretary-General of Central Macedonia Region, Professor Jacob Vasalos, President of Thessoloniki Innovation Zone and Dr Paris Kokorotsikos of Euroconsultants, adviser to the Innovation Zone.

The party was received by Malek Sultan Al Malek, DIC’s executive director, and Faisal Hammoud, regional sales manager of DIC.

DIC, a subsidiary of Tecom Investments, is the largest managed information and communications technology cluster in the Middle East and North Africa region.