The municipality of Thessaloniki<.> has been left off a shortlist of potential investors in Greece's exhibitions' organiser HELEXPO, which is based in the northern port city.
Five groups seeking a 30% stake in the organisation have been chosen out of the initial seven which submitted expressions of interest. They comprise:
Britain's International Trade Exhibitions.
Italy's Fiere Internazionali di Bologna-Ente Asutonomo.
The US' Key 3 Media Group.
Technical firm Avax, constructors J&P, ETETH, France's Generale Location
and Package.
Britain's Mack Brooks Exhibitions Ltd and Damco Energy AE.
The winning bidder will receive a 30% stake and undertake management of the organisation while the state will retain control of 40%, another 10% will go to Thessaloniki entrepreneurs and the remaining 20% is to be listed on the Athens Stock Exchange.
Thessaloniki Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos criticised the decision to reject the municipality's submission, saying it would hinder Thessaloniki's development.