23-11-2009: “2nd Intercultural Entrepreneurship Two-day Seminar concludes with Ef Epihirin award presentation”

The presentation of the Ef Epihirin
awards to three migrants who live and operate businesses in Athens, on Saturday evening (22-11-2009), marked
the conclusion of the 2nd Intercultural Entrepreneurship
Two-Day Seminar, organised by the City of Athens Migrant Services Department's
Intercultural Centre.

The Ef
Epihirin awards were introduced as a new
city institution this year, on the initiative of Athens Mayor Nikitas
Kaklamanis and in collaboration with the Athens Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (ACCI). The aim is for the awards to constitute an innovative
institution acknowledging the contribution migrants make to Greek society that
will assist in promoting harmonious coexistence and the integration of migrants
in the local community.

Deputy Mayor
for Equality and Social Integration Alexia Evert-Alverti,
who represented Mayor Kaklamanis, made the following
statement:

"Through the presentation of awards
to three successful migrant fellow citizens, for the first time we are
acknowledging the contribution and efforts of all our fellow citizens who left
their homelands, started from scratch and managed to achieve their goals. They
have every reason to be proud of their progress and themselves. And we have
every reason to be proud that they live, thrive, contribute and create here
among us, by choosing to make Greece
their second homeland. I hope that the channels of communication with migrant
communities in our city always remain open, as has been the case in the past
three years here at the City of Athens,
so that the relevant dialogue, concerns, conclusions and acknowledgement are
widely acceptable, as we have seen here today".

For his part, ACCI chairman Konstandinos
Michalos noted:

"For many years now, migrants have
been active in business development, particularly in Athens' city centre. With determination, hard
work and devotion, many of them have managed to convert their hope for a better
life into a successful business venture. I commend these people who have come
to our country and by overcoming the obstacles, prejudices and difficulties of
Greek reality, which discourage even us, managed to succeed".

Finally,
Research Centre for Gender Equality (KETHI) chairman and 7th City
District chairman Elena Zenakou referred to KETHI data concerning the state of
female entrepreneurship in Greece and the efforts made in recent years to
increase business opportunities for Greek and foreign women.

The first
award, the Migrant Entrepreneur of the Year Award, was presented by ACCI
chairman Konstandinos Michalos to an Albanian economic migrant from Himare, who
has managed to establish a boat engine repair business.

The second award, the Migrant
Entrepreneur of the Year who has made a contribution to the community, was
presented by Deputy Mayor
Evert-Alverti on behalf of the City of Athens to an Albanian economic migrant
from Himare who allows the facilities of his Computer Training Centre to be
used free of charge for the teaching of the Albanian language to Albanian
migrant children.

The third award, the Woman Entrepreneur of
the Year Award, was presented by KETHI chairman Elena Zenakou to a migrant from
Colombia who operates in the tourism industry, namely as the European
representative of one of the biggest exclusive travel agencies in the United
States.