Monday, May 7th, 2001 The Pierre Hotel, New York City

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Our Fifth Annual Capital Link Forum is taking place in New York today, Monday, May 7th, 2001, as usual at the Pierre Hotel. Its subject is: " Modern Greece: EMU membership, developed stock market status, Olympics 2004". This year's event is organized with the cooperation of the Greece-US Business Council under the Chairmanship of Dr. Athanase Lavidas, who is also Chairman and CEO of the Lavipharm Group of Companies. We also gratefully acknowledge the contribution and support of the Greek Trade Commission in New York under Mr. Alexander Mitrogogos.

This year, we are particularly honored that H.E. George Papandreou, Minster of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic will commence the proceedings of the Conference. Our keynote speaker is Mrs. Angelopoulou-Daskalaki, the President of the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games Athens 2004. Our distinguished speakers include the US Ambassador to Greece, Hon. R. Nicholas Burns, the President of the Athens Stock Exchange, Dr. Panayiotis Alexakis, the President and CEO of the Aspis Group of Companies Mr. Paul Psomiadis, the Head of Investment Banking of MARFIN Investment Services Mr. Konstantinos Karakostas, the Head of Trading of MARFIN Helleniec Securities Mr. Samuel David, the Vice Chairman of the Elliniki Technodomiki Group of Companies Mr. Dimitris Kallitsantsis. In the afternoon there is a special panel on the business and investment opportunities related to the Olympic Games of 2004. Mr. Marton Simitsek, Executive Director, and Mr. George Bolos, General Manager Marketing of the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games Athens 2004 will present to be followed by the Mr. Anastassios Chomenidis the Managing Director of the Hellenic Tourist Properties.

The sponsors :
This year's event is made possible through the generous sponsorship of several companies. The major sponsor is Marfin Group. Sponsors are the Aspis, Elliniki Technodomiki and Lavipharm Group of Companies as well as the Hellenic Tourist Properties.

The event:
The Capital Link Forum is organized every year in New York by Capital Link. Its objective is to provide the American and Greek American communities with a reliable and recurring update on the progress, developments and potential of the Greek economy and businesses. Every year, the event draws over 400 senior executives from the American business, financial and investment community and select members of the Greek American business community. It is widely publicized in the US, Europe and Greece.

Special concept for this year:
This year's event will focus on major issues, which make Greece an attractive destination for foreign investments: economy, stock market and the 2004 Olympics. It will address the Greek economy in the post EMU era, the leadership of Greek companies within their sectors in Greece and the wider region. Regarding the stock market which is acquiring developed market status as of May 31st, 2001, the Forum will present the developments and initiatives of the Athens Stock Exchange within the Euro zone and the area of Southeastern Europe. The 2004 Olympics will be the keynote topic and we will focus on the impact of Olympics on the Greek economic and business environment, as well as the new business opportunities they can generate.

Timing:
On May 31st, 2001, Greece will become officially part of the Morgan Stanley Capital International Indices on Developed Markets (MSCI EAFE and MSCI WORLD). This culminates Greece's transition to the major developed markets group, where investors channel the bulk of their funds. Greece is now entering the investment horizon of a new large group of investors, who up to now are not familiar with the Greek market. Therefore, by organizing this event at the beginning of May, we provide investors with enough time to inform and position themselves in light of the May 31st milestone.

Cooperation with the US-Greece Business Council:
As mentioned at the beginning, this year's event is organized with the cooperation of the US-Greece Business Council, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Athanase Lavidas. Its participation in the organization of this event denotes the importance which leading private sector companies place on promoting Greece's new image and potential to the appropriate investor group abroad.

Thank you all for coming and enjoy the Conference.