The Chamber of Aitoloakarnania is based in Agrinio (Western Greece) and operates in accordance with the provisions of Law 2081/1992 & 3419/2005. It is the evolution of the Regional Chamber of Commerce Agrinio (founded in 1932) and the Business and Industrial Chamber in the region Aitoloakarnania Prefecture in Agrinio (founded 30 30/8/1946) that merged and is managed by a Board which is elected every four years.

Its registered companies/members exceed 16,000 and are distributed in the sectors of Agricultural Processing, Trade, Services,Export and Tourism - Transportation.

The headquarters of the Chamber are located in Agrinio and there are four branches scattered in the largest cities of the Prefecture area: a) in Messolonghi, b) in Nafpaktos, c) Amfilochi and d) Vonitsa.

The Chamber owns building infrastructure of 1,115sqm. adequately equipped with an ultramodern conference hall with full highlevel image - Audio & Multimedia Equipment for Presentations, Events & Conferences (capacity of 200 seats), 1 exhibition - meeting - training room with full high-level image - Audio & Multimedia Equipment for Presentations, seminars, workshops, B2B meetings (capacity of 80 seats) and 1 smaller meeting room with teleconferences Equipment (capacity of 15 seats). 2 apartments total area of 225 sq.m. (2nd & 3rd floor).

Its human resources include 16 employees and a specialized structure for the management of international policies and projects cofinanced by EU funds.

Chamber of Aetoloakarnania is considerably active in the field of enhancing entrepreneurship, developing international outlook and competitiveness of SMEs and fostering potential start-up entrepreneurs and newly-established micro and small enterprises.

Moreover Chamber of Aetoloakarnania participates in several initiatives that foster the development of entrepreneurship and implements special actions related to sustainable growth of the Region of Western Greece.

Specific.  Partnerships & Co Operations. :

1. Developing Association of Aetoloakarnania
2. Business Innovation Center of Western Greece
3. Center for the support of Small & Medium Enterprises of Western Greece.
4. Managerial Commitee of European Programmes of Peloponnesus, Ionian Islands, Epirus & Western Greece.
5. Enterprise Europe Network Hellas – Antenna.
6. Assonautica Euromediterranea
7. AIC FORUM

Finally, it is important to emphasize that Chamber of Aetoloakarnania is in close collaboration with local and regional Public Authorities and the Academic sector, thus forming synergies that practice the Triple Helix approach (business, science and government) in order to support entrepreneurship.

As part of its activities Chamber of Aetoloakarnania provides the following services to its members:

• Supports the establishment of companies through one-stop shop.
• Manages the General Commercial Register.
• Organizes and subsidizes missions in thematic exhibitions mainly in EU countries, to strengthen the internationalization of local manufacturing enterprises
• Conducts lectures, workshops, conferences and seminars with business content.
• Informs entrepreneurs about current developments in the European Union and the prospects of the sectors of the local economy.
• Provides information on existing funding sources, grants and subsidies from Greece and Europe.
• Informs on ways to promote products and existing sales networks in Greece and abroad.
• Informs its members on the opportunities and incentives for the use of innovative ideas, patenting and trademarks.
• Informs its members about novel institutions that assist exporting of goods and services.
• Provides information regarding foreign interest on Greek products.
• Participates through its representatives on 37 local Councils and Committees of developmental character for the entrepreneurial world.
• Support SMEs in market research, sales organization and general issues of Marketing.
• Each year it analyzes main economic indicators of  Aetoloakarnania Province.
• Provides electronic services to its members through its Portal (http://www.etakcci.gr  -  www.epimetol.gr ).

Areas of Activity

• Fisheries and aquaculture
• Energy networks
• The marine environment
• Transnational terrestrial habitats and biodiversity
• Diversified tourism offer
• Sustainable and responsible tourism management (innovation and quality)
• Seafood
• Food and drinks
• Tourism offer (products and services)
• Tourism with cross-sectorial approach: ICT, Mobility, Energy Efficiency, Health