Tax Is Changing We Are Changing Tax Georgia Stamatelou Partner and Head of Tax and Legal, Kpmg

MARCH-APRIL 2019 THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN-HELLENIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.amcham.gr TAX IS CHANGING WE ARE CHANGING TAX GEORGIA STAMATELOU PARTNER AND HEAD OF TAX AND LEGAL, KPMG THOUGHT LEADERS BUSINESS PARTNERS TURNS ATF 2019 UPSIDE DOWN TURNING TO TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE TAX EXPERTS FORUM— BOARDROOM GOVERNANCE BY MARTYN CHAPMAN EXAMINING THE HELLENIC AMERICAN UNIVERSITY FOSTERS TOMORROW’S AGILE SELF-LEARNERS THE WORLD AHEAD WITH LEONIDAS PHOEBUS KOSKOS AndersenTax.gr CONTENTS 24 14 28 Georgia Stamatelou, Partner and Head Martyn Chapman, Head of Strategy at Vassilis Vizas, Tax Partner at PwC of Tax and Legal at KPMG, talks about Nasdaq Governance Solutions, talks Greece, explains why good corporate how technology and geopolitics are about using technology to enhance governance is about “intellectual changing the world of tax as we know it boardroom governance honesty” 4 THE BOARD 32 CES 2019 Make Way For Greek Startups 6 CHAMBER NEWS Showcasing Innovation and 10 NEW YEAR’S RECEPTIONS Entrepreneurship at CES 2019 THE BIMONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE AmCham welcomes 2019 AMERICAN-HELLENIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 36 TAX & LEGAL in Athens and Thessaloniki Law 89: An Attractive Regime for VOLUME XVIII | NUMBER 101 ISSN 1109-4990 CODE: 6526 12 ALBA BUSINESS REVIEW Shared Services Centers in Greece Learning Agility: BY CONSTANTINE POULIOS CHAMBER.PRESS AMERICAN-HELLENICCHAMBER .PRESSCHAMBER OF COMMERCE AMERICAN-HELLENICA PathCHAMBER to OFStrategic COMMERCE Agility 38 TRENDS AND TRADE MAKERS BY KOSTAS AXARLOGLOU DIRECTOR 40 BUSINESS2BUSINESS Elias Spirtounias 14 BUSINESS TOOLKIT A B2B Toolbox [email protected] Turning to Technology to Enhance PUBLISHER Boardroom Governance Alexandra Loli 42 VIEWPOINT [email protected] BY MARTYN CHAPMAN A Chamber’s True Role EDITOR BY ALEXANDRA LOLI T.C. Lowrie 16 NAMES AND FACES IN THE NEWS 44 ATF 2019 DESIGN 18 REAL ESTATE MATTERS White Creative Studio Celebrating 15 years In the Market for a Home? Live PRINTING & BINDING of Athens Tax Forum Queue Print LTD It First! Top Tips for Prospective Home Buyers OWNER American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce BY CHARIKLEIA STOUKA Politia Business Center SPECIAL FEATURE 109-111 Messoghion Avenue 20 BIZ BUZZ 115 26 Athens Tel: +30 210 699 3559 24 THE INTERVIEW THOUGHT LEADERS Fax: +30 210 698 5686-7 Tax Is Changing Tax Experts Forum E-mail: [email protected] Examining the World Ahead We Are Changing Tax BRANCH OFFICE 123 Tsimiski Street — with Georgia Stamatelou 546 21 Thessaloniki Tel: +30 2310 286 453 28 GROWTH FOR BUSINESS Fax: +30 2310 225 162 Good Corporate Governance Is E-mail: [email protected] Everyone’s Business BY VASSILIS VIZAS 30 EDUCATING THE FUTURE ATF 2019 Fostering Tomorrow’s 44 Celebrating 15 years PLEASE RECYCLE PLEASE www.amcham.gr Agile Self-Learners of Athens Tax Forum BY LEONIDAS PHOEBUS KOSKOS MARCH-APRIL 2019 | BUSINESS PARTNERS | 1 DIRECTOR’S DESK We are living in disruptive and interesting times, not only for Greece but for the whole world. While in Brussels last week for AmCham EU’s Transatlantic Conference 2019 and the annual briefing sessions organized alongside it, I once again had the opportunity to meet with policymakers, major business representatives, economic analysts, and most of my counterparts in American Chambers in Europe. The topics addressed in both the conference and the briefing sessions were those on the top agenda in the EU and worldwide, including Brexit, trade with China, EU elections, energy and data security, digital tax, digital disruption and reskilling, health and environment taxes. In brief, the trade and investment balance between the US and the EU still accounts for approxi- mately 30% and 60% of global figures respectively despite the latest rhetoric and disputes. There are certainly grounds for discussion on a new EU-US trade and investments agreement, and it is to the benefit of both the United States and Europe, which share common values and common understand- ing, to reach a deal that will set the basis for trade rules on a global level and could effectively contain ongoing trade violations and associated bad practices from certain countries. Both Brexit and the EU elections were much discussed, as they are expected to impact the course of the EU in the near future on all levels. Regarding Brexit, things are so unclear that nobody knows if, when and how the United Kingdom will leave the EU. The European Parliament elections in May will definitely put some pressure on the UK’s final decision, as it would be contradictory to run candidates in the European elections while simultaneously discussing how to leave the EU. As for the European elections, there was apparent nervousness in Brussels regarding voter turnout and the outcome of the polls. For the first time, projections show that the new Parliament will be quite fragmented. As EU officials realize how much is at stake, from the single market to European integration and security, they are beginning to discuss changes towards more open and less bureaucratic governance, more ef- fective communication with citizens, and perhaps a more direct election model capable of bypassing political differences at the local level that dominate the voting process in member countries. Back in Greece, and in the midst of a pre-election period not only for the EU but also for munici- palities and peripheries within the country, our Chamber continues to push forward with its active presence and dynamic advocacy through a series of key events and open discussions on taxation, education, defense and security, health policy, regional competitiveness, and youth entrepreneurship. And of course, we tirelessly work to represent the business community in the strategic dialogue between the United States and Greece, true to our mission to support and enhance economic and trade relations between the two countries. ELIAS SPIRTOUNIAS Executive Director THE AMERICAN-HELLENIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE A DYNAMIC, PROACTIVE CHAMBER The American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce was established ber of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C. and the in 1932 and is one of the largest, most active, and dynamic European Council of American Chambers of Commerce (ECACC). American Chambers in Europe. Virtually all American companies that do business in Greece and Greek companies that engage in trade with the United States are members of the Chamber. MISSION STATEMENT The Chamber's membership is comprised of more than 1,000 The American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce strives for con- proactive companies that seek to expand business horizons, tinuous improvement of American-Hellenic commercial and fi- create new business partnerships, and take advantage of trade nancial relations, through increased membership and through and investment opportunities in today's global economy. the organization of top-quality events, exhibitions, fora, semi- The American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce is an active mem- nars, and congresses on both sides of the Atlantic. 2 | BUSINESS PARTNERS | MARCH-APRIL 2019 SPRAY COMMITTEES AMERICAN-HELLENIC AGROTECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE Argiriou Notis, Bezergianni Stella, Chriss Dimitrios, Constantinidis Constantinos, Efthymiadis Thymis, Karagiorgos Nikolaos, Katsaros Georgios, Kouimtzis CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Athanasios, Koukakis Athanasios, Michailides Ekaterini, Nakas Ioannis, Tsaftaris Athanasios, Vergos Evangelos | Coordinator: Tsavdaroglou Nikolaos AUDITORS COMMITTEE Felonis Athanasios, Kerameus George, Sabatakakis Kyriacos CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE Chair: Papacostopoulos Constantine | Apsouris John, Charalambous Yiangos, Kozoboli Christy, Lessi Eleni, Monogios Vassilis, Shiamishis Andreas, Staikouras EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Panagiotis, Theodoulidou Maria | Coordinator: Constantinidou Daphne CSR COMMITTEE Chair: Papademetriou Pakis | Diakatou Chrysoula, Iatrelis Manos, Ioannidi Nicole, Anastasopoulos Simos, President | PETSIAVAS S.A. Kesisoglou Martha, Konstantinou Natasha, Konti Kiara, Kouidou Marilena, Kyriacou Siana, Macheras Alexia, Manou Olga, Melios Nikolaos, Menidiati Manina, Papadopoulou Angeliki, Sfakianaki Sevi, Bakatselos Nikolaos, Vice President | PYRAMIS METALLOURGIA A.E. Soulaki Rania, Vrachatis Ioannis | Coordinator: Boyatzis Angela Kyriacou Marios T., Vice President | KPMG CERTIFIED AUDITORS A.E. CULTURE COMMITTEE Chair: Lidoriki Zozo | Antoniades Vasilis, Arsenis Evgenia, Daskalaki- Mytilineou Sophie, Kaldara Xenia, Karaitidi Eva, Lianos-Liantis Efstathios, Marangopoulou Vicky, Panayotopoulos Litsa, Secretary General | EVIA.IP LTD. Mavrotas Takis, Panos Pantelis, Pataki Anna, Stavropoulos Stavros, Tsougrianis Panagiotis, Ververidis Papadopoulos Thanos, Treasurer | CHEVELLAS S.A. Nikos, Zenetou Artemis, Zirinis Yannis | Coordinators: Tzagaroulaki Katerina, Paneta Frosso EDUCATION-INNOVATION-ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMMITTEE Chair: Panayotopoulos Litsa | Canellopoulos Paul, Counselor | AIG GREECE S.A. Antoniou Nikos, Carydis Claudia, Costopoulos Alexandros, Katsou Nelly, Ketikidis Panagiotis, Kokkini Alexandra, Koutouvelis Fanis, Loutsos Thanos, Makios Vassilis, Mergou Barbara, Moros Konstantinos, Costopoulos Alexandros, Counselor | FORESIGHT STRATEGY Papadakis George, Papapanagiotou Archontoula, Paraskevopoulou Elina, Pilitsis Loukas, Porfyris Nikolaos, Printzos Michael, Rizopoulos John, Sabatakakis Kyriacos, Triviza Katerina, Tsiboukis Antonis, & COMMUNICATIONS Tsoukalis Alekos, Tzakou Nelly, Zanetopoulos Konstantinos | Coordinators: Tzagaroulaki Katerina, Mamidaki Eleftheria, Counselor | MAMIDOIL JETOIL PETROLEUM Chaidogiannou Sofia EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE Chair: Koussia

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