Founding Members

The Founding members of the Exhibitions Research Institute are:

The University Research Institute (U.R.I.) of Applied Economic and Social Sciences was founded in 1996; its members are four Departments of the University of Macedonia, i.e. Economics, Business Administration, Accounting and Finance, International and European Economic and Social Studies, the Municipality of Kalamaria and, finally, the Association of  Insurance Agents of Northern Greece. The Aim of the Institute is: a) to adopt and develop research programs, concerning economic and social structure and developments as well as cultural traditions and particularities of the Greek population as compared to the populations of the European Union and the Balkan Peninsula, b) to organise and conduct seminars, scientific congresses and meetings concerning economic, social and political issues about the Greek population and EU and Balkan state populations and c) to issue relevant titles. U.R.I. activity is considered particularly important, since it aims at supporting the connection of the University with the Greek society, the economy, enterprises and the manufacturing sector, as well as the upgrading of economic cooperation among EU and Balkan countries, in general.

Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry was established in 1918 and started operating in 1919. The Chamber is the second in size in Greece and its contribution to the development of the country has been essential. The history of the Chamber is closely related with that of the region: the establishment of Thessaloniki International Fair, the modernisation of Thessaloniki Port Authority and the Free Zone within it, the foundation of the Merchandise Stock Exchange of Thessaloniki, the operation of a middle School of Commerce, the foundation of the Superior Industrial School of Thessaloniki (present-day University of Macedonia). As soon as negotiations on the full accession of Greece to the EEC started, the Chamber organised various events to promote the European Idea. Today, TCCI has 20 thousand active members (registered) with a dynamic entrepreneurial presence that led Thessaloniki and the broader region to account for 50% of total Greek exports.

The Chamber of Small and Medium Sized Industries of Thessaloniki was founded in 1925 as the Chamber of Professionals and Small and Medium Sized Industries. In 1940 the Chamber was divided and two independent chambers were created, i.e. the Chamber of Small and Medium Sized Industries of Thessaloniki and the Chamber of Professionals of Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki Chamber of Small and Medium Sized Industries is a Public Law Corporate Body [PLCB] and, in administrative terms, it is accountable to the Ministry of Development. It constitutes an Independent and Self-Administered Organization, the Board of which is elected every four years. The Chamber is managed by a five-member Administrative Committee and a Board of 61 Directors. Its membership includes all small and medium size manufacturing firms as well as service providing companies of special know-how, seated in Thessaloniki. Currently, the Chamber has more than 23,000 members from the secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy.

The Union of Hellenic Chambers of Commerce and Industry was founded in 1980. The administrative body of UHCCI is a nine-member Administrative Committee which is elected every 4 years by its General Assembly that includes the Union's 58 Chamber-Members. The UHCCI represents the Chambers within and outside Greece by supporting their points of view and presenting their opinions. It submits and promotes various demands by enterprises, it intervenes in the processes of decision-making and contributes to the shaping of economic policy. The Union liaises between enterprises and Public Administration, the State and the Productive classes. The main sectors of the UHCCI's international activities are: In the EU at the level of the European Committee and the Union of European Chambers (Eurochambers), the UHCCI actively participates in the Committees and Working Groups of Eurochambers in sectors such as Transport, Tourism, etc. In South-eastern Europe, with its membership in the Union of Balkan Chambers (comprising the unions of: Albania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Greece, Cyprus, F.Y.ROM., Romania and Turkey); UHCCI is also a Founding member of the Black Sea Union of Commercial and Industrial Chambers, the members of which are the National Unions of Chambers of the Black sea region.