He left for Australia when he was just 10 years old and returned 40 years later to make his dream come true
He was only 10 years old Napoleon Tsanis when in 1978 he boarded a plane to travel alone to faraway Sydney. Born in Eleftheri, Thesprotia, he was not frightened by the distance, nor by the new circumstances, nor by the fact that he did not know the English language. Considering that his small and poor village had nothing to offer him, he did not listen to anyone from his family and flew away to Australia, with the support of his uncle.
Four decades later, Mr. Tsanis decided to change his whole life again. To return to his homeland and more specifically to his place of origin, Thesprotia, so that together with other Greek-Australian investors they can create in Igoumenitsa a model unit, not only for Greece but also for the whole of Europe, of bio-safe shrimp farming.
“I was born in a very small village whose main occupation was animal husbandry and whatever products were grown in the plains. I thought I had no prospects and in ’78 at the age of 10, I made the decision to leave for Sydney, where my uncle lived. When I first got on a plane the journey was endless, the flight lasted 24 hours and the experience was unique“, the businessman recounted in an interview he gave to the radio station of the Greek Ministry of Energy – MEB “Agency 104.9Fm”.
Despite his young age and the obstacles presented in Australia, Mr. Tsanis never considered that he made the wrong choice. He finished primary, secondary and high school in Australian schools, while at university he studied molecular biologist. However, as he himself mentioned, “I quickly realized that I had reached a ceiling. While you are engaged in research you move away from society. I’ve always had the entrepreneurial spirit, so I left molecular biology and started my own business.”
In Australia in these 40 years he obtained a second degree in business administration, while at the same time, he worked as a photographer, in the banking industry and in project management. But the only occupation that kept all these decades stable was the shrimp. I have never dealt with anything more than shrimp in my life. From 1998, when I bought shares and became a partner in a shrimp business, this story began,” he emphasized.
The return to the homeland
His decision to return to the homeland and to create a land shrimp farming unit in Igoumenitsa it came on the occasion of the visit of an elected member of the local government in Sydney, who during a meal tasted the prawns and learned that they were not frozen but from aquaculture. Mr. Tsanis together with other Greek-Australians immediately decided to take the local government on a tour of the shrimp business in which they had shares and cooperation, in Queensland. This was also the reason for the politician to put the idea on the table… that Thesprotia is the right place for a similar investment.
A thought that slowly began to mature in the minds of both Mr. Tsanis and the rest of the Greek-Australians. “Thesprotia for many years was the poorest prefecture in development, isolated and without road axes until Egnatia and now the Ionian Road were created. “When we made the decision with four other shareholders and completed all the long-term actions to set up the shrimp farming unit, I chose to go back permanently”, adds Mr. Tsanis who currently holds the position of managing director at the company “Europrawn Fish Farms Greece”».
This year, after many efforts, was the first year of production and the amount of fresh black tiger shrimp, which is mainly consumed raw or boiled, currently only covers the Greek market. However, the company has signed agreements with Europe and the Middle East, more specifically Dubai and Doha.
“Doing our research we saw that fresh shrimp was missing from the European market, 95% of the shrimp you consume in Europe is imported and frozen. The fresh quantity is small and we realized that there is a huge demand for fresh shrimp, but the production capacity is not there. And that’s how we started… At the moment the only “black tiger” shrimp farming in Europe takes place in Greecesaid the CEO.
Chasing the dream
Today the first wing of shrimp farming employs 24 workers but in its full development the workers of the unit are expected to reach 150. The license they have received provides for the total operation of five production units and all other auxiliary works (packing plant, live food production area) in the old delta of the Kalamas River and the shareholders are determined to put the project into full operation.
The Biosafe Aquaculture Center of Thesprotia “marries” aquaculture technologies with new innovative technologies of closed circuits, water recirculation and waste management resulting in zero discharge to the environment of both wastewater and water.
In addition to business activities, Mr. Tsanis is also interested in sports and assumed the position of vice president of the “Thesprotos” football team, which this year competes in Super League 2, having on its bench, the old acquaintance of the stadiums, Juan Ramon Rocha.
On the occasion of his entire journey and life from one continent to another, the message that Mr. Tsanis sent to the young children and also to those with innovative business ideas is:Never give up on the dream. If you really believe in something, go after it. And if you fall, don’t stay there. Get up and keep going».
RES-EMP
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