By Geoffrey R. Pyatt
Mr. Geoffrey R. Pyatt is the US Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic.
The U.S. Embassy is proud to participate in the Posidonia International Shipping Exhibition June 4-8, a biennial tradition for the past 40 years. Posidonia was first certified by the U.S. Commerce Department in 2006, and as such it is recognized by the global shipping community as one of the world’s largest and most important shipping and maritime exhibitions. Posidonia links the international shipping community with Greek ship-owners and a fleet of more than 4,000 vessels across the globe. The United States is honored to host an official Pavilion at Posidonia. The American Pavilion will feature 11 exhibition spaces showcasing American companies and their contributions in various sectors of the industry. We invite visitors to Posidonia to stop at the official American Pavilion and explore business opportunities with our exhibitors: The Neorion Shipyard, ENECON Mesogios, Lubrication Engineers, Moran Shipping, Onex Llc., Phila Coatings, Shipwright, Sims Pump Valve Company, The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, The Society of Naval Architects and Engineers (SNAME), and Sphere MD.
The American presence at Posidonia highlights the strong interest U.S. firms have in bringing the latest knowledge and technology to the growth and modernization of Greek shipping.
Also, during Posidonia 2018, the U.S. Embassy’s Commercial Section, in cooperation with the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), has organized a Seminar: “Trading in U.S. Waters: Priorities and Solutions”. This event is designed to assist the local shipping community and maritime stakeholders to acquire a fully integrated approach to U.S. requirements for vessels visiting U.S. ports. The seminar will focus on current topics of interest including new Low Sulphur Requirements, the Digitalization of Shipping, Cyber Security and Risk Management. This specialized seminar provides a unique platform to meet and network with a targeted audience of ship-owners and industry experts. The Greek shipping community has long played central role in the global economy, and is a belweather for the health of global commerce. The shipping industry adds to Greece’s own stability and that of the Eastern Mediterranean. In recognition of these contributions, I want to emphasize my respect and appreciation for the vital role that the Greek shipping industry has played in deepening the strong ties between our two countries.
Greece’s beautiful coastlines and climate have created the ideal conditions for Greek maritime life. From the age of the mighty Athenian Navy to the modern day, the maritime tradition has thrived here and Greece is home to a stellar merchant marine and shipping community. The local industry serves as a vital link between Greece and the rest of the world, and Greece’s role hosting Posidonia offers an excellent opportunity to further develop those connections.
There will be an impressive number of exhibitors and cutting-edge marine technologies on display, which will provide a glimpse into the future of international marine shipping. I view this event as a significant opportunity to enhance U.S. – Greek business relations in the shipping sector.
My colleagues and I strongly believe that the stronger Greece is and the healthier its economy is, the more Greece can act as a force for good in the wider region. This is why I feel so strongly about our presence at Posidonia 2018. The U.S. Embassy recognizes the value of this event for the entire industry, and we plan to be a part of it for years to come.
The strong ties between Greece and the United States in the shipping sector are reflective of the deep cooperation that exists between our two countries in so many other areas.
This year provides us an opportunity to highlight those strong ties as we look forward to this September’s Thessaloniki International Fair where the United States will be the honored country. The Thessaloniki International Fair provides an excellent opportunity to highlight the strong relationship between our two countries as well as opportunities to deepen those ties. We will be highlighting American innovation and entrepreneurship across multiple sectors. The fair will also help to spotlight Greece’s economic recovery and give us the opportunity to reaffirm our strong bilateral relationship.
The United States recognizes the growing commercial and investment opportunities here in Greece and large American companies and investors are increasing their engagement here. Greece represents a positive value proposition and its geostrategic location offers unparalleled opportunities. A prime example is the investment by U.S.-based ONEX Corporation in the historic Neorion Shipyard on the island of Syros. I was glad to hear from local government officials about the pride and excitement that the shipyard workers felt when the first ship docked there for repairs after a year of inactivity. Neorion has restarted operations, and I hope to see similar, productive U.S. investments in this sector in the future, whether at the ports of Alexandroupoli, Kavala, or elsewhere. Greece and the United States will continue to benefit from stronger links between our people, businesses, and governments, which will also serve the interests of Europe and the wider Mediterranean and Balkan regions. The people-to-people ties between Greece and the United States, including in particular those between our shipping and maritime communities, are the foundation of our deep bilateral relationship.
