EU Commissioner visits NSRF-funded Apivita cosmetics

Katainen was accompanied by Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism Minister George Stathakis, with whom he had met earlier, and said that if Greece had many such companies, it would not be facing a crisis now.

NSRF funds were part of the company's investment of 14.5 million euros to build new offices, a plant and cultivations in the Industrial Park of Markopoulo, southeast of Athens. The premises incorporate bioclimatic principles, contain a field planted with thousands of plants, produce super purified water and have a beehives open to visitors. The main building has four levels (including two subterranean levels) and includes educational facilities along with an amphitheatre.

The company was started by pharmacists Niki and Nikos Koutsianas and has invested in a multi-purpose Spa Health and Beauty in Kolonaki district, Athens. It also operates five programmes on product and cultivation development.

The company is active in the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, Britain, Spain and Russia, among others and plans to open branches in seven more countries globally. It recently decided to sell only to large pharmacies. Apivita employs 400 people globally, with 217 of these working in Greece.