In the frame of the official visit of the Prime Minister, Mr. Konstantinos Simitis, in Japan, Mrs. Lito Ioannidou, Executive Vice President, represented the Athens Stock Exchange as member of the delegation that accompanied the Prime Minister.

Mrs. Leto Ioannidou met with Mr. A. Nishihara, Managing Director of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and other top executives of the Stock Exchange, as well as with the leadership of the Japanese Stockbrokers, Institutional Investors, Investment Consultants and Banks Associations.

She also had contacts with representatives of other agencies, such as the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Nasdaq of Japan etc.

During the meetings, Mrs Lito Ioannidou made a presentation regarding the Greek capital market, its institutional framework, its fundamental figures and features, its prospects and the actions of the Stock Exchange in order to face the new international challenges. There was also reference to the developments that are materialized in the European capital markets in the frame of the consolidated European market.

The response of the Japanese agencies was particularly positive and it was agreed that presentations are held in Japan by the listed companies on the Athens Stock Exchange themselves, so that they constitute an investment choice of Japanese institutional investors that invest overseas.