With the ceremonial opening of the trading session by the Special Secretary for Private Debt Management, Marialena Athanasopoulou, the Athens Stock Exchange concluded its participation in the Global Investor Week on Friday, October 7. The event is jointly organized by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE).

"It is a great honor for us that this year’s trading session is being opened by Special Secretary for Private Debt Management, Ms. Marialena Athanasopoulou, who has repeatedly emphasized the crucial role of financial education in building a strong economy. Promoting financial literacy is a fundamental pillar of the National Strategy for the Development of the Greek Capital Market. For the Athens Stock Exchange, fostering a deeper understanding of capital markets is the only way forward," stated Yianos Kontopoulos, CEO of the Athens Exchange Group, during his address. He further emphasized: "Through a series of initiatives, the Athens Stock Exchange highlights the importance that the domestic capital marketplaces on financial literacy. A prime example is the ATHEX Academy, which has organized more than 120 seminars in recent years, alongside numerous visits by university students from almost all Greek institutions, as well as school students of all levels. Our efforts do not stop here—we are planning and developing new initiatives to strengthen financial literacy. Every significant initiative in this direction will find a steadfast supporter in the Athens Stock Exchange."

Ms. Marialena Athanasopoulou, during the event, stated: "I welcome the ‘Ring the Bell for Financial Literacy’ event organized by the Athens Exchange Group as part of the 2022 Global Investor Week. Recognizing the critical importance of financial literacy for society, the Special Secretariat for Private Debt Management (EGDIX) has undertaken the development of a National Strategy for Financial Literacy. As part of this initiative, a survey has been conducted in schools across the country using a structured questionnaire. This project is funded by the European Commission and implemented by the OECD, with the contribution of all relevant domestic stakeholders."

From her perspective, Vasiliki Lazarakou, Chair of the Hellenic Capital Markets Commission, stressed: "Citizens must be informed so that they can understand investment products and avoid falling victim to fraud. This is the primary goal of financial literacy initiatives and one of the priorities we have set as the Capital Market Commission."

Meanwhile, Nikos Vettas, General Director of the Foundation for Economic & Industrial Research (IOBE), noted in his speech: "In recent years, Greece has incorporated all European financial regulations, yet a gap in financial literacy remains. The problem is particularly evident in the lack of understanding of fundamental economic principles and the very low household savings rate. Every household should allocate a portion of its savings to participate in the country's economic growth."