Chios, the mastic trade, and the ties between Greece and the Arab world

Mastic - a unique product from the Greek island of Chios - has been at the heart of the island’s economy for centuries, linking it - and Greece - to the rest of the world, particularly the Middle East. Mastic found on Chios is used extensively throughout the Middle East, propelling trade and cultural links between Greece and the Arab world for centuries. As Greece takes steps to play a much more central role in bringing together countries in the region, mastic trade and the connections it fosters show us that the foundations for this are already in place. Sean Mathews, an Athens based journalist covering the region, joins Thanos Davelis to look at how mastic trade not only serves as a bridge between Greece and the Middle East, but also reflects the changing fortunes of the region.Read Sean Mathews' latest here: Chios, the Greek island fuelling the Arab world's sweet toothYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:EU ready to weigh into Greek recovery effortSpecter of shortages looms in wake of Thessaly floodsG20 summit: Transport project to link India to Middle East, Europe unveiledIndia's economic corridor to Europe via Saudi, UAE: a win for US, West Asia