Italian President Giorgio Napolitano awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic to the president of the Hellenic-Italian Chamber of Athens Ioannis Tsamichas, at a ceremony held at the Italian embassy in Athens, on November 24.

The Insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Republic decoration was presented to Tsamichas on Napolitano's behalf by the Italian ambassador in Greece Claudio Glaentzer in recognition of his efforts towards the enhancement of the bilateral economic and trade relations.