On the occasion of the start of the new autumn/winter season
(2014-2015)
the
Institute of Energy for South East Europe (IENE)
held,
on Wednesday, October 1, 2014, its
annual
"Back to Business”
event. This year’s
"Back to Business”, which took
place at the hospitable and historical grounds of the Yacht Club of Greece in
Kastella, Piraeus, brought together approximately 100 executives from the
energy sector of Greece and, also, from other countries of SE Europe.
The
"Back to
Business”
event signaled also the launch of IENE’s Fund Drive
campaign for 2014-2015.
Prior to dinner,
IENE’s Chairman, Mr. John Chatzivassiliadis, at his address to the participants,
stressed the need for a establishing a "Green Bank” in Greece, aiming at the
funding of investments in the energy sector with a reasonable cost. The
Executive Director of the Institute, Mr. Costis Stambolis, then made a short
presentation of IENE’s Fund
Drive, followed by
statements of support by some of IENE sponsors and supporters.
As stressed at the
"Back to Business”
event,
IENE’s Fund
Drive aims
at the economic support of targeted research programmes, studies and various actions
of the Institute. IENE is fully committed in maintaining its status as
non-governmental and entirely independent organization.
At the same time, the Institute, as one of the leading independent energy think
tanks in the SE European region, is going ahead with the development of a
highly credible and worthwhile range of services covering research, assessment
studies, sectorial surveys, educational activities, event organization and
networking, with the involvement and the cooperation of leading energy experts
from all different countries of the region. Thus the Fund
Drive initiative is a useful and indispensable tool
for the realization of this vision
.
This is the first time that the Institute is organizing a focused and
coordinated Fund Drive campaign over a six month period (October 2014-March2015).
The aim of the Fund Drive is to raise financial support for the Institute’s
varied activities across SE Europe and so enable it to develop further its
research and study programmes, move into more spacious and modern offices and
organize and expand its scientific library. In addition money to be raised
through the Fund Drive will enable the IENE to develop and promote programmes
to tackle energy poverty, set up an in-house employment office for young
graduates and energy professionals but also establish the annual IENE awards
for the promotion of innovation, entrepreneurship and regional co-operation in
the energy sector.
Overall,
"Back to Business”
provided an excellent opportunity for IENE members and associates to
meet in a friendly and hospitable environment, but also proved to be a pleasant
and fruitful gathering for professionals and academics of the region’s energy
sector.
The
sponsors of this year’s
"Back to
Business” event were the Public Gas
Corporation of Greece (DEPA S.A.)
and the Kyriakidis-Georgopoulos Law Firm.