Summary of the FOODEXPO Visit – Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce Delegation to the Exhibition 09-10.03.25

### Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce Delegation to CENTER EXPO METROPOLITAN - FOODEXPO - Greece
**By invitation of the SA FORUM organization.**

A delegation of businesspeople and chamber members met with approximately 94 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, representatives, and companies—both through pre-arranged and spontaneous meetings. These exhibitors participated in FOODEXPO, the largest food and beverage industry exhibition in the Balkans. The two days (out of the exhibition's three) were filled with motivation, positive impressions, professionalism, and most importantly, respectful and meaningful human interactions.

We extend our gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this visit and honored us with their presence.

[FOODEXPO Official Website](https://foodexpo.gr/en/34-978-stelechi-tou-fb-se-mia-pagkosmia-kainotoma-entyposiaki-food-expo-2025)

For the first time at this exhibition, an **International Beverage Conference** was held, providing insight into trends in Greece and worldwide, focusing on **health drinks, non-alcoholic beverages, energy drinks and vitamins, eco-friendly packaging, branding, and more.**

In such a challenging time, when outward smiles mask internal struggles, we made the decision to proceed with this trip and also leverage our presence for public relations efforts. It is essential to acknowledge the empathy and efforts of the organizers, who ensured our security, met our needs, and emphasized our presence.

The management team of the Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce and the **Israel-Greece Food, Beverage, and FoodTech Forum** worked intensively to coordinate and prepare meetings, collaborating closely with the visit coordinator from **SA FORUM**. The delegation consisted of **eight participants**, including chamber members and additional delegates.

### Special Guests and Key Meetings
We were honored by the presence of **Noam Katz, Israel's Ambassador to Greece**, who attended on the second day of the exhibition. His visit reinforced a clear message: **we are here despite the circumstances.** As part of this, delegation members and other exhibition visitors met with the **Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce** and the ambassador, who provided a brief overview of **bilateral relations and the importance of visits like this to FOODEXPO.**

Ambassador Katz was welcomed upon arrival by:
- The **CEO of SA FORUM**,
- Their **Business Development Director**, and
- The **CEO of the Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce.**

We were pleased to find that, during our time at the exhibition and our visit to Athens, **we did not encounter any negative or hostile attitudes.**

### Matchmaking Meetings & Networking
During **B2B matchmaking sessions**, delegation members met with **approximately 250 exhibitors**, in addition to spontaneous meetings with visitors who requested to meet us as chamber representatives (**about 8 additional meetings**). Several chamber members who were in Athens for relevant business purposes also visited us, as well as Israeli businesspeople attending FOODEXPO independently for the first time.

### Future Collaborations
We held a **business meeting with the SA FORUM management team** to discuss ongoing collaboration for upcoming exhibitions planned for **2025-2026**, including:
- **XENIA + PACK GLOBAL** in **November 2025**.

The visit received media coverage in **local and regional outlets**, including interviews with two delegation members in **English**, broadcast on the exhibition’s internal channel to share their experiences and insights about attending **FOODEXPO during such a challenging period.**

### Support & Hospitality
The visit was **fully funded by the organizers**, **SA FORUM**, who provided:
- **Flight tickets**
- **Two nights’ accommodation** in Athens
- **Organized transportation**
- **Catering and meals** during the exhibition
- **A designated storage room** for bags
- **A dedicated meeting and rest area (BUYERS HOSTED LOUNGE)**

Each delegation member contributed a **handling and organization fee**, paid directly to the Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce, which also covered the cost of a **group dinner.**

### Social Highlights
We enjoyed a **group dinner at a local Athens restaurant**, where we also celebrated the birthday of **Asher Aharon**, a chamber member who played a key role in various coordination efforts.

For more details about this visit and upcoming 2025 events, contact us at:
📩 **chamber@israelgreece.com**

### Strengthening Business Continuity
This visit was another milestone in the **Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing efforts to maintain business continuity even in times of crisis**—fostering **closer ties, supporting new initiatives, and helping members and businesspeople advance their Israeli-Greek business ventures.**

### Summary in Numbers
📅 **2-day visit**
👥 **8 delegation members**
🇬🇷 **1 meeting with Israel’s Ambassador to Greece, Noam Katz**
🏢 **1 designated area for delegations**
🤝 **2 business meetings with FOODEXPO organizers (SA FORUM)**
🍽 **1 group dinner**
🇬🇷 **1 briefing about Greece for delegation members**
💼 **94 B2B meetings**

### Participant Feedback
> **Doron Farkash, Premium Olive Oil Producer, Chamber Member & Delegate:**
> *"Thank you, Kobi, for the flawless organization. I really enjoyed being with you all and learned so much. Wishing everyone success!"*

> **Itzik Levy, Negev Brewery, Delegate:**
> *"Thanks to all for two well-organized days at an excellent exhibition and for the camaraderie in between. Great appreciation to Kobi for putting this together professionally... looking forward to more happy occasions!"*

> **Yitzhak Elkaim, Consultant & Importer, Delegate:**
> *"I also join in the thanks! It was a pleasure meeting new friends. Special thanks to Kobi for all his efforts—well done!"*

For more information about the activities of the **Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce & Industry**, stay connected!