
About BICC
The Business Information and Clearing Center (BICC) is a
non-governmental, not for profit organization, established in
2001 in Thessaloniki, Greece, by distinguished members of the
Greek business community. Initially created as a connecting bond
within the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI),
BICC developed into a partner of the broader mechanism for SEE
development and cooperation, including the Stability Pact for
Southeast Europe and the Business Advisory Council for Southeast
Europe.
The core focus of BICC activities lies with the facilitation of
public private partnerships and strategic investment targeting,
as well as trade facilitation, through consultations with key
international, regional and local investors in SEE, with
experience in key sectors for the area’s stability and economic
sustainability.
In terms of operations, BICC has contributed to project
implementation of a regional range, in cooperation with reliable
development partners, such as the World Bank, DG Enlargement
(TAIEX Unit), SECIPRO, HELLENIC AID, HELLASPRO, and others.
An investment bridge across Southeast Europe
With a flexible and functional structure, BICC is an ideal
communication channel and a consultative mechanism between the
public sector, the business community and international
institutions, aiming to create an added value for the SEE
approach of Euro-Atlantic institutions through:
• Supporting inter-governmental plans, cross-border partnerships
and various synergy schemes between all stakeholders in SEE
development (public, private, local, regional and international)
• Facilitating private sector investment targeting, public
decision making, regional strategic planning and coordination of
program complementarities for sustainable development
• Establishing integral relations with the broader regional
development network, and sustaining regional communication by
maximizing the advantages of geographic proximity to the SEE
emerging markets
The tools…
Addressing diverse entrepreneurial needs and adjustable to
public and international development plans, BICC has produced
tangible results for the facilitation of cooperation on multiple
levels by:
• Developing a web portal to disseminate customized, executive,
reliable and timely information
• Participating in international and regional fora to identify
strategic tendencies in SEE
• Producing comprehensive reports, executive briefs and analyses
for key economic sectors for SEE development and of interest to
Greek, regional and international investors, as well as large,
medium and/or small business structures
• Cooperating with other actors for the fruition of
international, regional and local development initiatives
• Coordinating regional and international fora focusing on
challenges and opportunities facing SEE – indicative:
o “Reconstruction in Southeast Europe: the challenge of
Public-Private Partnerships”, April 2003, Thessaloniki, Greece,
under the auspices of the Hellenic Presidency of the EU Council;
o “2004 Southeast European Trade and Transport Forum”, December
2004, Alexandroupolis, Greece, under the auspices of DG
Enlargement TAIEX Unit and in cooperation with the World Bank.
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