Cooperation agreement between Ionian Islands Region and China’s Shandong Province

The Ionian Islands Region’s five-day mission to China (May 23–27) ended with the signing of an Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation with Shandong Province. The agreement was signed in Jinan during the 7th Meeting of Local Leaders of China and Central and Eastern European countries, attended by delegations from numerous countries.

The Region was represented by Deputy Regional Governor for Finance and Trade Savvas Koulouris, alongside representatives of the Chambers of Commerce of Lefkada, Cephalonia–Ithaca, and Zakynthos.

Members of the mission included the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Lefkada, Sotiris Skiadaresis; board member of the Chamber of Commerce of Cephalonia and Ithaca, Christos Nikoletatos; and First Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce of Zakynthos, Iakovos Kontaratos.

According to the Regional Authority, the cooperation agreement primarily concerns four areas: agri-food exports, the blue economy and maritime activities, thematic and cultural tourism, as well as academic cooperation through the Ionian University and the Hellenic Centre for Sinology.

During the mission, contacts were also made in the city of Tai’an, where the Ionian Chambers of Commerce signed a cooperation agreement with the local chamber, aiming to create trade channels and business partnerships.

In the city of Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius, meetings were held with an emphasis on cultural exchanges, while at the conference in Jinan, the Ionian Islands Region participated with its own booth, presenting local products and the tourism attractions of the islands.

The mission concluded in the city of Linyi with meetings at industrial and commercial centres, as part of an exploration of opportunities for trade cooperation and exports.

GIORGOS KATSAITIS