| |
|
Posidonia opens next week as confidence in Greek shipping potential
rises |
|
|
|
Thursday, 03 June 2010 |
 The 22nd
edition of Posidonia 2010, the world’s most prestigious shipping trade
event, opens its doors next week on the back of renewed confidence in
the state of Greek maritime affairs as outlined in a recent Union of
Greek Shipowners (UGS)
statement.
According to UGS, Greece’s foreign exchange earnings from ocean going
shipping services were substantial in 2009 amounting to € 13.5 billion
despite a slight decrease compared to the previous year. Continued
new-building orders will ensure Greece maintains its global leadership
position with 15 per cent of the global total tonnage while establishing
its supremacy in the European Union flag fleet.
The UGS announcement came hard on the heels of the recent unveiling of
Cosco Group’s strategic plans for the port of Piraeus which will go
ahead despite the crisis that has hit the Greek economy. The world's
fifth-largest container port operator has reiterated its commitment to
the port’s commercial docks operations and has outlined its strategy to
double the current workforce, meet a TEU target of 800,000 and
eventually establish the port as the key European gateway for Chinese
trade. And Abu Dhabi MAR’s 75 per cent stake at the Mediterranean’s
largest shipyard will also provide the required capital to further
expand capacity and diversify the portfolio of Hellenic Shipyards.
“COSCO and other companies that have subsequently committed investments
to Greece had first been introduced to Greece through their
participation to POSIDONIA as far back as 1990 and the recent
participation at Posidonia of exhibitors from Saudi Arabia and the UAE
has also resulted in the recent investments,” said Themis Vokos,
Chairman, Posidonia Exhibitions S.A., the organizer of Posidonia.
“In its 44-year history Posidonia has served as a networking forum
between shipping industry professionals and has laid the foundations for
thousands of business transactions that have had significant
contributions to national economies and corporate bottom lines, jobs
creation and growth stimulation,” he said.
“And thanks to some 10,000 international high level shipping industry
executives who will visit the show, Posidonia also injects significant
foreign exchange inflows directly into a large number of tourism
industry SMB’s, the spinal chord of Greece’s economy. This is estimated
to be a biennial windfall of around Euro 50 million spent in tourism
related activities in Athens and the Aegean islands,” said Vokos.
Organisers say that Posidonia 2010 will be the biggest ever in terms of
floor space, number of exhibitors and expected visitors. More than 1,850
exhibitors from 87 countries will participate in the five-day event. A
sold-out space of 30,700 square metres means that the exhibition is 11.5
per cent bigger than the 2008 event, a remarkable achievement
considering the global economic downturn.
Nearly 10 per cent of the total exhibition space has been allocated to
Far Eastern companies, who have increased their combined Posidonia
participation by 45 per cent compared to the previous edition. China’s
charm offensive is driving this growth as the country will field two
national pavilions besides significant presence by China Shipbuilding
Industry Corporation (CSIC), the COSCO shipyard group, China
Shipbuilding Industry Corp and Yiu Lian Dockyards (SHEKOU) LTD. Japan
and South Korea have also beefed up their Posidonia presence with Japan
Ship Exporters’ Association (JSEA) and Japan Ship-equipment
Manufacturers Association (JSMEA) increasing their respective pavilions
in size, a massive KOSHIPA (Korean Shipbuilders Association)
pavilion
and independent stands from STX Business Group, Sungdong Shipbuilding
& Marine Engineering Co Ltd, SPP Shipbuilding Co LTD, Zhejiang
Province, Daishan County, Haizhou Ship Building and Repairing Co LTD.
Europe will also make its presence felt with two national pavilions from
the UK, increased Dutch presence and stronger participation from the
traditional seafaring nations of France, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
Sino-Greek shipping relationships will also take centre stage on June 11
during the Hellenic-Chinese Business Forum 2010 organised by the
Hellenic Chinese Chamber of Commerce. It will examine Hellenic-Chinese
relationships in ship building, trading and ship management and cross
trade and transport of raw materials to and from China. The utilization
of Greek ports as transit centres will be at the core of the
proceedings.
Other Posidonia 2010 events scheduled at HEC’s 100-seat seminar room
include press conferences by DNV, Germanischer Lloyd, RINA, the Union of
Greek Shipowners, Cargotec and others.
Gratsos, Chairman of Hellenic Chamber Shipping, in his message stated:
“Greek-owned shipping is one of the main pillars of the Greek economy
and creates, directly and indirectly, plenty of jobs for the Greek
economy. Greece is currently in a dire economic situation, which is the
result of the domestic problems of the Greek economy, which were
highlighted by the global economic crisis. Both Greek shipping and
Posidonia, which have managed to succeed internationally, show us the
way for future development and growth. Greece can succeed by setting
clear goals and following the example of Greek shipping.”
The Posidonia week officially kicks off tomorrow Friday June 4 with the
Posidonia Cup, the sailing race first introduced eight years ago and
which has since evolved into a showpiece sailing calendar event. 50
companies have already confirmed their participation in this year’s
Aegean regatta, which is again sponsored by Lloyd’s Register.
On Sunday, June 6, the global shipping community will have the chance to
meet at the football stadium of Greek Superleague team Olympiakos for
the 2nd Posidonia Shipsoccer Tournament, which will pitch 28 teams from
various companies in a round robin tournament designed as a networking
and socialising event.
On Monday June 7 the ribbon cutting ceremony for Posidonia 2010 will be
held during the official Posidonia opening ceremony and after that, on
Monday afternoon, Posidonia will open its floor for business. Posidonia
2010 concludes on Friday 11 June.
Posidonia 2010 is sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Competitiveness
and Shipping, the Municipality of Piraeus, the Hellenic Chamber of
Shipping, the Union of Greek Shipowners, the Greek Shipping Co-operation
Committee, the Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association, the
Association of Greek Passenger Shipping Companies and the Union of
Marine Enterprises.
Posidonia coordinating committee
A high profile committee comprising senior members of the Greek shipping
community has been created to enhance the contribution that Posidonia
makes to the shipping industry and to take advantage of the many
opportunities it presents in promoting the interests of Greek shipping.
The Posidonia Coordinating Committee will further strengthen the
existing links of Posidonia with the Greek shipping community so that
the industry’s aspirations can be effectively projected both at home and
abroad.
The Posidonia Advisory Coordinating Committee comprises of:
• Committee Chairman: Mr John C. Lyras – Past
president of the Union
of Greek Shipowners and currently member of its Board.
• Members :
• Mr George A. Gratsos, Chairman of the Hellenic
Chamber of
Shipping
• Mr Theodore E. Veniamis, President of the
Union of Greek
Shipowners
• Mr Haralambos J. Fafalios, Chairman of the
Greek Shipping
Co-operation Committee of London
• Mr Themistocles Vokos, Chairman Posidonia
Exhibitions
“The Greek shipping industry continues to play an important role for the
Greek economy and, more widely, underlines Greece’s position as a major
player in promoting world trade and the efficient movement of goods by
sea,” said Themistocles Vokos.
“Every two years Posidonia brings together the leaders of the world-wide
sea transportation industry and all those associated with it; from the
technical to the financial sector, from the commodities sector to ports
and cargo handling and from shipbuilding to the service industries. In
doing so Posidonia confirms Greece’s position as a leading maritime
nation and further strengthens the links between this vital industry and
the Greek economy.
“We warmly welcome the establishment of this Committee which will
further strengthen the existing links with the Greek shipping community
so that its aspirations, policy objectives and commercial interests can
be best promoted through Posidonia,” said Vokos.
Source: Posidonia Events
|
| | |
Rss
Online
- Contact Send us your news
