Chr. Staikouras: The goal is the consolidation of the shipbuilding sector with rules

A series of legislative regulations aimed at resolving key issues that act as a deterrent to the development of the shipbuilding and repair sector, announced the Minister of Finance, Christos Staikouras, from the podium of the Conference on “The Future of the Shipbuilding Industry” held at the Ε.Β.Ε.Π.), on the occasion of the performance of a series of events of “Sea Days 2022” in Piraeus.

Chr. Staikouras referred to the reform program implemented by the government, despite the increased uncertainty created by the current crisis, which, as he stressed, aims to support business, but also to improve the investment attractiveness of the country’s economy.

The Minister of Finance, stressed the importance and role of shipping in the Greek economy, noted that a new policy is needed, so that the shipbuilding sector, with the three major shipyards, as key nuclei, contribute to the support of shipping, but also to ensure defense autonomy of the country.

The aim of the government, he said, is to consolidate the shipbuilding sector with rules, which he stressed, given the importance of the sector for the development of a project which he described as very ambitious, but also complex. Special report by Chr. The case and the development regarding the Scaramanga shipyards, whose facilities are the largest in the country, happened to refer, immediately, to the government’s goals, in terms of legislating a new framework that will allow the development of the sector.

For his part, the Minister of Development and Investment, ‘Adonis Georgiadis, in his message stressed that industrial activities are gradually returning from Asia to Europe, a fact that is particularly critical at this time.

“Now or never” we must develop the country’s shipbuilding sector to highlight, and that in turn, the importance and role for shipping, entrepreneurship, but also for the economy in general.

The Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Giannis Plakiotakis, stressed that it is a duty to give due importance to the country’s shipbuilding industry as it can support the world’s first Greek shipping.

He said that to date Asian shipyards monopolize the world market and that given that our country is the world’s leading shipping power, it owes a debt to have the corresponding shipbuilding industry. He pointed out that there is a need to revitalize the shipbuilding sector in our country, adding that the government fully supports the achievement of this goal and has proven it in practice.

Referring to the Shipyards of Syros, he said that they are the proof of the recovery of the shipbuilding and repairing sector, emphasizing that the owner company ONEX has invested more than 30 million euros to cover debts and upgrade infrastructure, while stressing that at the moment of 600 employees and about 100 ships are serviced each year.

Mr. Plakiotakis also referred to the plan approved a few days ago by the Council of Ministers regarding the consolidation of the Elefsina Shipyards.

He said that this includes borrowing more than 200 million euros, an amount that will be gradually repaid with investments of similar value over a decade, while 2,000 new jobs will be created. 1,000 of them in the commercial part, and another 1,000 in the defense.

For his part, the mayor of Piraeus, Giannis Moralis, addressing the organization of the “Sea Days”, stressed that the municipality intends to be part of the conversation, for the development of the shipbuilding sector, given that the heart of shipping, strikes in Piraeus.

The chamber will be a help in every effort towards the rebirth of the shipbuilding sector because we firmly believe that in Greece, as it had a glorious past, it has a bright future, said the president of EBEP Vassilis Krokidis. He stressed that with the successful restart of Neorio, and soon of Elefsina and Scaramanga, Greece can be repositioned competitively in the international market through its shipyards.

Also, the vice-president of the Hellenic Naval Chamber, George Alexandratos, on the occasion of what was heard at the Conference on the role of shipyards and shipping, stressed, among other things, the need to introduce shipping in schools as a subject, so that both the new world and society, to understand the importance of shipping for the country.

The Secretary General of the Aegean and Island Policy, Manolis Koutoulakis, also spoke, while the study of IOBE was presented by the General Manager, Nikos Vetta, which was done on behalf of Hemexpo and on the initiative of the President, Eleni Polychronopoulou, on the subject: “Construction Trends, prospects and contribution to the Greek economy ”

It is worth noting that, during the event, Panos Xenokostas, President of ONEX Group Shipyards and Technologies, and Christina Theodorika, CEO of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Greece were awarded, who in turn referred to the importance of the shipbuilding sector. , but also in a series of events that make Piraeus a shipbuilding hub.