Greece has a unique advantage with three pillars: Shipping, shipyards and energy. This was the message sent by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, to the contacts he had in the United States, during his visit to Washington and New York.
“Greece combines its leadership in shipping – with a Greek-owned fleet that represents 20% of the world’s fleet, 60% of the European and 25% of the LNG carrier capacity,” Kikilias stressed in his meeting with US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.
During the meeting, ways of cooperation between Greece and the US on maritime transport were discussed, given that 90% of world trade is carried out by sea.
“In bulk carriers, containers and LNG, Greece has the lion’s share through Greek-owned shipping,” he emphasized.
Realistic framework for cooperation policies
The discussion highlighted our country’s role as an energy hub with critical infrastructure. At the same time, it was decided to create a joint Greece-US working group with the aim of shaping a realistic framework for cooperation policies.
Sean Duffy will soon visit Greece, where he will have the opportunity to get to know the ports, shipyards that are on a path of regeneration and other strategic infrastructures, further strengthening the prospect of bilateral cooperation.
The strong US investment interest in Greek shipyards was recorded in all the contacts of the Minister, while at the same time the significant presence of Greek shipowners in the American market was highlighted, as many Greek shipping companies are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Kikilias also met with Doug Burgum, Minister of the Interior and Head of the US National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC), who had previously visited our country.
In the meeting with Doug Burgum, it was emphasized that shipyards, shipping and energy are inextricably linked. “Following the revival of Greek shipyards, which are already attracting American investments and creating support bases for the shipbuilding industry, Greece can play an important role in further strengthening the strategic cooperation between the two countries in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Kikilias underlined.
At the same time, the strategic energy infrastructures in Revithoussa and Alexandroupoli make the country an energy hub of three continents.
Reliable partner
“Shipyards, Greek-owned fleet and energy are linked in a single framework, which makes Greece a reliable and stable partner of the US and Europe, not only in transport, but also in the entire energy and shipping value chain,” emphasized the Greek minister.
During the meeting, Kikilias had the opportunity to highlight Greece’s geostrategic importance.
“Greece is at the crossroads of critical projects such as the Vertical Corridor for the transport of natural gas from Alexandroupolis to the Balkans and the rest of Europe,” emphasized the Minister. “The possibility of interconnecting American and Greek shipyards with the Greek-owned fleet was specifically explored, a prospect that can create new synergies and give impetus to investment projects,” he added.
During his visit to Washington, Kikilias also met with the newly appointed US Ambassador to Athens, Kimberly Guilfoyle, which took place on the day of her official assumption of duties. During the meeting, they emphasized that the cooperation will be close, as shipping is the country’s major asset for job creation, security and prosperity.
