In celebration of women’s contributions to international relations, Ms. Sofia Kounenaki Efraimoglou, President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was recently acknowledged at the Sisters Cities International (SCI) reception in Washington D.C. The event, which commemorated the UN International Day for Women in Diplomacy, honored Efraimoglou alongside Her Excellency, Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States.
During her acceptance speech, Efraimoglou expressed deep gratitude to her hosts, she outlined her commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs, a vital but often under-resourced group in international diplomacy. “We try to not only help our member enterprises but also be by their side for their extroversion,” Efraimoglou stated. She described the Chamber’s efforts in hosting delegations, exploring investment opportunities, and promoting diversity and inclusion, especially for small and women-led businesses.
Ms. Sofia Kounenaki Efraimoglou from the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry accepted her award at the Sister Cities International Reception in Washington, D.C. @GreeceInUSA @GreeceinNewYork @GreeceMFA @SisterCitiesInt @CaroleFeld @RobieKakonge_ @MFA_Ukraine @OMarkarova… pic.twitter.com/fjH7niZKBl
— DiplomaticWatch (@Diplo_Watch) June 29, 2024
The Greek business leader focused on supporting women entrepreneurs. “We have an incubator, a business accelerator, and the business angels network. We help startups and women-led startups because they need an extra push in entrepreneurship,” she explained.
Following the ceremony, Sofia Efraimoglou spoke briefly in an interview with Diplomatic Watch, reflecting on the event’s impact. “It’s amazing what happened here in Washington D.C. It was very moving and proves that the work we do at the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry is on the right track,” she said. Efraimoglou elaborated on her role in building bilateral relations between the U.S. and Greece, mentioning her participation in Select USA to explore investment opportunities.
Ms. Sofia Kounenaki Efraimoglou, President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry spoke with Diplomatic Watch after receiving her award for outstanding accomplishments as a woman business leader.@GreeceInUSA @GreeceinNewYork @GreeceMFA @SisterCitiesInt @CaroleFeld… pic.twitter.com/8NnpSQbA6W
— DiplomaticWatch (@Diplo_Watch) June 29, 2024
