Founded 2300 years ago, Thessaloniki has always been a commercial and business centre, due to its strategic location. Like all commercial centres, Thessaloniki has also been the crossroads of major commercial highways, connecting east and west, and crossroads connecting cultures, ethnic groups and civilizations.  
Being an open city, Thessaloniki has always been attracting businessmen from various ethnic groups such as Jews, Armenians, etc.

Today, Thessaloniki with a population of 1,2 million, maintains the same role of the business centre, relying on its significant pillars such as its port which serves neighbouring countries as well and has been recently privatized. The port of Thessaloniki has great potential due to its location, its direct connections with European motorway corridor X and railway networks. Furthermore, great  perspectives could open should the port becomes connected with Danube through the neigbouring Axios river. Another important pillar is Macedonia Airport, which has recently been incorporated to the Fraport Group and is presently under modernization and expansion.  Thessaloniki lies in the crossroads of important major modern highways (Egnatia, connecting the western ports of the country with the Turkish border and Patras Athens Thessaloniki Evzoni highway, connecting the southern country to the northern borders which are connected to the Central European transportation highways, Lastly, one should mention that our city has recently acquired its underground train network, which is currently under expansion.   

Furthermore, Thessaloniki possesses: 
the largest industrial area of the country, 
three universities with over 120 thousand students and 
an important International Exhibition and Convention Center.

The contribution of the broader region of Macedonia and Thrace in the Greek economy is also very important.

Over the past 30 years Greek businessmen have been particularly active in the neighbouring countries investing heavily in manufacturing including cement, petrochemicals, textiles, metals, foodstuffs, retail commerce as well as the banking sector. In this cooperation with the Balkan countries Thessaloniki plays a pivotal role not only due to its proximity but also due to its dynamic business community.
The Greek Government has made serious structural changes in the economy which have increased its competitiveness and will continue doing so in the near future thus enabling the economy to recover in the next couple of years after the COVID-19 crisis.

The latest enlargement of the European Union and those that will follow in the future towards the Western Balkans will further enhance the role of Thessaloniki. 
Thessaloniki seems an ideal location to host the regional headquarters of any foreign company wishing to do business in S.E. Europe.  

It is not a coincidence perhaps that our city has been chosen to host the seats of important international organizations such as CEDEFOP (the EU agency for vocational education training) as well as the Black Sea Trade Development Bank. 
Recently, a number of internationally acclaimed companies have chosen Thessaloniki to host their regional offices such as Microsoft, CISCO, Deloitte and Pfizer.