Maria-Rubina G. Markopoulou, President Greek-Pakistan Entrepreneurship Cooperation Initiative, is a world famed Business consultant with a long and successful career in the fields of development and sales. She has experience as a business developer in family hotel business Robinson Club Daidalos, and Robinson Club Lyttos Beach, with international circle of acquaintances and experience in domestic and international business travels.
She studied at Special School of Architecture in Paris and obtained Bachelor degree in Architecture-Engineering in 1985. She possesses excellent interpersonal skills, with confidence to approach people at all levels of seniority, self-motivated and enjoy working to targets as well as an articulate, confident communicator and presenter.
She was also elected Municipality Counselor in Drosia area in 2014, elected board member of the Greek – Nigerian Chamber of Commerce as well as Advisor to the Ambassador of Nigeria, in Athens. During her recent visit to Pakistan, she graced a request for an exclusive interview for Melange, International Magazine. A few extracts of the interview are given below for the interest of our worthy readers.
Melange: Kindly brief our readers about your professional achievements in recent past?
Maria Markopoulou: I played my role in the Promotion / view of Astir Hotels in France in 1990 as government consultant. Later in 1998, I worked as one year irrevocable business visa for Kwait, directly from family of Emir of Kuwait. Very next year in 1999, I remained engaged in buying and selling of Bahrain and general cooperation about bank and financial products between Greece-Oman-Bahrain. Then in 2003, I played a role in purchase agreement between Lazaridis Cigarette Company and Marafi family on Kuwait, for resale in Iraq. Later in 2011, I created Greek-Iraqi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and became board member and spokeswoman of Iraqi Ambassador in Greece.
Melange: Kindly let us know about nature of your job experience?
Maria Markopoulou: I have worked as Present Exclusive Business Matcher for Africa, U.A.E, Saoudi Arabia and Turkey for the Cosmetic Products “Toi de Paris”, France in 2015. In 2013, I raised to the office of Owner and General Director of ATHENA P.C.C International Business Developing Company. Earlier in 2012 and 2013, I worked as Sales Executive Consultant Pharmaceutical laboratories in Iraq, Algeria, Morocco and Palmiebistro S.A, Βusiness Developer franchise in Iraq for Yellow Rose S.A., Pharmathen S.A., Kleva S.A., Remedina S.A. From 2009 to 2011 I remained active as Sales Executive Consultant Pharmaceutical laboratories and Drakos-Polemis S.A pumps factory in Arab Gulf region and Africa for Adelco S.A, Medhel S.A, Rafarm S.A. From 1999 to2011, I remained engaged with constructions with engineer Gianni Lazarou.
Melange: Kindly, brief us about philosophy, vision and values of ATHENA P.C.C International Business Developing Company?
Maria Markopoulou: Through handling business matching enquiries of all sorts and everyday parleys with worldwide companies, our specialists stay at the forefront of industry advancement and new business development. We can even formulate your preliminary ideas into concrete business requirements, and find potential business partners subsequently. Moreover, our philosophy is simple; understand client’s needs and request details, identify potential partners from all over the world, cnfirm enquiry interest and capability as well as connect to the partners.
Similarly, our strong values, integrity and ethics come before profit. We are loyal to our principles, our colleagues and our profession. We are not afraid to say ‘no’ for all the right reasons. Innovation comes from the healthy mix of cultures and perspectives. Difference is something we celebrate.
Furthermore, we treat clients’ challenges as our own. We care about how our work affects our communities. We are in this for the long- term. As new faces come and go, as one generation hands over to another our relationships, experience and knowledge survive. We learn from the past, but look to the future.
Melange: Kindly comment on the possible impacts on bilateral trade volume of Pakistan and Greek in result of MoU signed between Greek-Pakistan Entrepreneurship Cooperation Initiative-Melange Business Consultancy?
Maria Markopoulou: Both Pakistan and Greece have good potential to cooperate with each other in solar energy, tourism, agriculture and infrastructure development for achieving mutually beneficial results. Pakistan and Greece need to improve their commercial and economic relations by taking advantage of new business opportunities. Therefore, Greek-Pakistan Entrepreneurship Cooperation Initiative has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Melange Business Consultancy for making joint efforts to further improve bilateral trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Greece.
Melange: Greek-Pakistan Entrepreneurship Cooperation Initiative has also signed an MoU with Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI); kindly give some details about this MoU?
Maria Markopoulou: Signing of MoU is a positive development that would help in bringing the entrepreneurs of both countries closer to each other. Therefore, ICCI President Khalid Iqbal Malik and I signed the MoU at Chamber House. As per MoU, ICCI and Greek-Pakistan ECI will make joint efforts for further improving bilateral trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Greece. Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Greece does not reflect the actual potential of both countries; however, it could be improved by promoting connectivity between the private sectors of both countries and encouraging frequent exchange of trade delegations.
By signing the MoU, both organizations have agreed to make joint efforts for increasing direct connectivity and business linkages between the private sectors of Pakistan and Greece that would help in exploring new areas of mutual collaboration. Both Parties would share with each other the information about trade fairs & exhibitions and work to facilitate exchange of trade delegations.
Melange: Kindly, explain a little bit about recently signed MoU between Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) and Greek-Pakistan Entrepreneurship Cooperation Initiative?
Maria Markopoulou: The major objective of this MOU was to promote bilateral trade ties and mutual benefits of the business communities of both countries. Both parties will cooperate with each other to establish and develop direct and effective business relations between their respective offices and to facilitate arranging business to business (B2B) meetings on reciprocal basis.
I want to commend RCCI for taking Women Business Incubation Center (WBIC) initiative, which will help women entrepreneurs to establish and run their own businesses. I also assure full support for providing trainings, support and mentorship for women entrepreneurs in Pakistan. Under the agreement, both parties will assist each other in organizing exhibitions, conferences, seminars, international fair, research and development, information sharing, mutual trade and joint ventures.