“The port of Elefsis is a strategically important investment. I want to clarify that the legislative initiative by the Ministry of Development exclusively concerns the use of the Elefsis shipyard. That is, the possibility of using its areas for port functions, storage, energy, etc.,” Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Minister Vasilis Kikilias said on Thursday.
Asked whether there is an issue with Cosco and the signatures of the Greek side, Kikilias replied that he does not respond to rumours, noting that “the agreements … are to be respected by all parties.”
Referring to investment and geo-economic developments, he explained that “80% – 90% of world trade is carried out by sea. Whoever, therefore, controls the sea routes and port infrastructures, essentially dominates the planet.”
Greece has key ports, key port infrastructure for these uses and it is obvious that whoever comes and make such investments in Greece, as has been done in the past in the port of Piraeus and the port of Thessaloniki, will obviously have the ability to dominate at the economic and energy level,” he added.
In particular, regarding the role of the Greek fleet, he pointed out that since it “constitutes 20% of the world fleet, it is the most powerful force on the planet in ocean-going shipping and this is a huge achievement of the Greeks. In every negotiation, therefore, it is a powerful, reinforcing factor. This also applies to energy as it will transport US LNG from the coasts of America to the other side of the Atlantic and to Europe with the agreements signed, making Greece an energy hub.”
Referring to the investment interest, he noted that “the investments, although and since they will come from the US side, will be private investments. They will translate into growth, wealth for our country, new jobs and the development of these professions related to the shipbuilding sector and a heavy industry, which the country needs.”
As he added, “there is a balance of trade transactions and an investment interest from abroad. Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his government, in these 7 years of governance, have tried very hard to bring foreign investments to the country. Our goal is the prosperity of Greek society and the Greek family. Can these investments have an impact? Can they affect the lives of citizens? I believe so”.
Finally, he emphasized that “a port can have various uses, including commercial and energy, but it can also be a port for warships. “A very significant effort is being made in Greek shipyards, with investments, in order to slowly begin to gain a part of the defense industry that we lost for many decades.”
Για να εμφανίζονται περισσότερα άρθρα της Ναυτεμπορικής στις αναζητήσεις σας εύκολα και γρήγορα, πρέπει να προσθέσετε το site στις προτιμώμενες πηγές σας. Μπορείτε να το κάνετε πηγαίνοντας εδώ.
