Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb shake hands on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. Holcomb continues his world tour of economic development trips in Greece next week. Photo provided by Ukraine Government
Gov. Eric Holcomb will lead an international trip to the Hellenic Republic, better known as Greece, next week at the invitation of the Council of State Governments.
The trip will focus on cultivating democracy and business, incorporating a mix of policy, business and cultural exchanges.
Holcomb, First Lady Janet Holcomb and representatives from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation will depart for Greece this weekend, and convene with the delegation of U.S. state and business leaders in Athens. There, the Council of State Governments delegation will explore the region’s unique history, tracing the Grecian origins of American democracy and the tradition of governing by means of political debate among citizens, according to the governor’s office.
Holcomb and the delegation will also spend time fostering relationships with U.S. and Greece government officials, meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Greece George J. Tsunis; Minister Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection of Greece; Deputy Minister Kostas Fragogiannis, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dimitris Skalkos, Secretary General for International Economic Affairs of the Hellenic Republic. The delegation will also work to advance private sector business opportunities between the U.S. and Greece, meeting with representatives of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce (AmCham Greece) and Enterprise Greece, according to the governor’s office.
This marks Holcomb’s 26th international economic development trip as governor and his first visit to Greece. Indiana and Greece exchanged more than $53.6 million of goods in 2023, and Greece is home to three Hoosier Corporations: Eli Lilly and Company, Corteva and Zimmet Biomet.
“I’m excited to showcase Indiana on the global scale once again,” Holcomb said in a statement on the trip. “As Indiana is a state built on democratic principles, it is fitting to travel to the birthplace of democracy itself. In Greece, we will forge new relationships and foster cultural ties for the betterment of our collective regions.”
The cost of the governor’s travel is being paid for by the Council of State Governments.
