“The marine industry in Greece represents 7% of GDP, employs directly or indirectly about 300,000 people and covers over 30% of the trade deficit.”

Our country holds a great national capital, that of our marine industry, which is characterized by strong economic and strategic negotiating value, as its contribution to the national economy, represents 7% of GDP, employs directly or indirectly about 300.000 people and covers over 30% of the trade deficit. Similar is its contribution to the European economy since it represents 46.48% (in dwt) of the Community capacity. It is also worth mentioning that, for every 1 million euro, the European shipping contributes to GDP, so 1.6 million euro are generated in other sectors of the European economy. Any eventual fundamental changes in the taxation of Greek Shipping could have unintended consequences, harmful not only to our country but also to the rest of the European Union. Greece, cannot risk this national capital, and should not let go the valuable opportunity to take advantage of the overvalue which will be created by the Juncker package, worth 1.5 billion euro, for the modernization of short sea shipping fleet in the European south.

The “Europa Ship Plan” is an initiative of the Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association and deals with the renewal of the Short Sea Shipping fleet, so that European vessels can meet increasing environmental obligations, such as those resulting from the implementation of the EU directive for new lower sulfur emission limits (0.5%) in the Mediterranean, from 2020. This project will lead to the construction of “green” ships, which can be used in parallel LNG, as fuel. “Scale Economies and the standardization (modular) of the shipbuilding process are expected to create strategic advantages to the project,” as mentioned. The “Europa Ship Plan” focuses on the creation of an appropriate funding mechanism, with favourable conditions, accessible from all Shortsea Shipowners, particularly in the South, who under the current circumstances face the biggest problems in finding funds. For this reason, the “SPV Europa Venture Ltd”, has already been created, in order to implement and promote the “Europa Ship Plan”.

Our country, however, is not entirely ready yet to “host” these operations, given that the repair industry is substantially less active nowadays. In this context, the Industry Vice-Minister, Ms Theodora Tzakri announced in the framework of the meeting of the PCCI Administrative Board that she intends to establish “Special Ship Repairing Secretariat” in the Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism, stressing that «we must utilize the international situation and the Juncker package to boost Piraeus. Synergies certainly help in this direction. Ideas, however good they may be, always hide the risk of remaining ideas and not be translated into actions. Therefore, we have set up a ”Task Force” of executives, who we believe can realize the formation of business clusters”.

Trying to make an effective contribution in this direction, the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, constantly takes initiatives, launching a series of corresponding actions. I would like to mention, indicatively, the creation of a new department within the Chamber, specializing in marine activities and the revival of shipbuilding activity, due to its particularity to represent companies involved in the operation of the biggest port of the country and the wider region of South-East Mediterranean. Moreover, the creation of the first Greek maritime cluster, the upgrade of the “License Ship Repairs” issuing service, its cooperation with the academic community of Piraeus, the successful completion of two training/certification programs, within NSRF 2007- 2013, for 4.000 people, mostly in the ship repairing sector, aiming to increase employment in the region, the submission of crucial proposals to the government for the new Development Law etc.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that the correct use and the serious management of European programs is an excellent opportunity that will bring about sustainable development in transport and shipping. The economic revival of the country can rely on the successful “example” of our marine industry, which is a world leader while using all the tools provided by its long relevant tradition, but also the success stories of its competitors.

09/02/2016