The Association of Greek Contracting Companies (SATE) was established in 1965. Its founding members were entrepreneurs Panayotis Kapasakalis,Dionysios Klavdianos, Athanasios Koutlas, Konstantinos Kraniotis,Theodoros Konstantopoulos and Gabriel Rotskos. It was at that time that Greek contracting companies started to maximize their contribution to Greek economy and society by undertaking the construction of large government and privately-funded projects.

SATE was established to coordinate the common effort by the government and the construction sector aimed at the country's development, to upgrade the cooperation between the social partners.

According to its statutes, SATE'S objective is to promote and protect the interests of its member companies, deal with the sector's problems, put forward well documented views, explore technical and economic issues in Greece, coordinate the activity of its members in promoting the country's interests, publicize and commend their achievements, and, finally, provide reliable and timely information on developments at a European and national level.

During the fourty three years of its existence, SATE has been able to abide by its statutory principles and establish itself as the most reliable adviser of the government and the sector. It has always put its views forward, made recommendations and proposals, and taken initiatives with the desired outcome and the fulfillment of its objectives in mind, as this is dictated by the country's economic and social needs in the context of a healthy, competitive and free market.

After the completion of the Single European Market in the post-Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) era - when markets are to become international - and in view of the challenges and opportunities in the purely construction sector, the implementation of the third Community Support Framework, the organization of the 2004 Olympic Games, and developments in the neighboring markets of South-Eastern Europe and Black Sea countries, SATE - the trades union instrument of Greek contracting companies which is constantly renewed and adapted to current needs - is playing a leading role in its relations with the government, other contracting associations, thus confirming and justifying its role as a top-level union in the sensitive sector of the construction industry.

Moreover, SATE has had for a number of years, a fruitful collaboration with the European Union and E.U. institutions and committees.

SATE's basic objective is to help its member companies maximize their involvement in the utilization of the country's resources, the creation of national wealth through business activity, the management of structural problems such as unemployment, and the overall improvement of Greece's position in a united Europe, the Balkans and the international community.

SATE is managed by a thirteen-member Board of Administration. The Association's regular members comprise all lawfully established companies (Societes Anonymes, Limited Liability, General Partnership, Limited Partnership) of the construction sector, based in Greece and registered in the Contracting Companies Register of the of Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks.

Members of the Association sit on various committees and boards, offering valuable services through their varied and specialized expertise. Another important aspect of the Association's activity is to provide timely and reliable information and guidance to its members.

In conclusion, SATE is as a live union, able to cope with current developments with increased sensitivity and sense of responsibility.