Dimitris Melas, Secretary General of the Hellenic–Indian Chamber of Commerce and Economy, joined ERT’s radio program “Our Global Voice” with Dimitris Kontogiannis to discuss the Chamber’s history and the growing ties between Greece and India across several economic sectors, including tourism. He also highlighted the Chamber’s role in strengthening cooperation between the two countries, particularly in areas such as the labor market.
Mr. Melas focused in particular on the Chamber’s “Eutopia” program, which aims to facilitate the structured and transparent recruitment of thousands of Indian workers to Greece. As he explained, Prime Ministers Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Narendra Modi had agreed on the phased relocation of 200,000 Indian workers to Greece starting in 2024.
To support this initiative, a digital platform has been created to host candidate résumés and conduct remote interviews, allowing both employers and potential employees to better understand each other’s needs and expectations. An information session for interested Greek business owners will be held on Friday, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., at the Caravel Hotel in the Macedonia B hall.
Mr. Melas also noted that currently, only about 50 Greeks are permanent residents in India, while an estimated 15,000 to 18,000 Indians are officially registered in Greece—though the actual number may exceed 20,000. The two largest Indian communities in Greece are located in Marathon, Attica (approximately 2,000 individuals, mostly employed in greenhouse farming), and in Rethymno, Crete (around 1,000 residents).