The Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, highlighted the economic and social impact of the Greek shipping industry in an interview at the “Greece 2030” conference.
As he emphasized, Greek shipping remains the backbone of the Greek economy and is one of the country’s greatest drivers of growth; with targeted investments in port infrastructure and energy, can evolve into a powerful ecosystem for growth, creating more high-quality, well-paid jobs and providing added value for local communities.
“Our shipping sector accounts for 61% of European shipping and 20% of global shipping, contributing 8% of Greece’s GDP and providing 200,000 jobs. With the right interventions and a visionary policy, combined with investments in port infrastructure and energy, this will enable the creation of a hub for strong growth, high-quality, well-paid jobs, and an increase in property values for residents in the areas where investments are made. This is a very good and very strong development model for heavy industry in the country,” he stated.
The minister made special mention of the younger generation and the need to highlight the prospects offered by maritime professions, emphasizing that shipping can be a real opportunity for young people who want to build their own lives and families.
“The only sector I clearly see at this time, in which a young person, after a career at sea spanning ten, thirteen, or fourteen years, can accumulate significant assets, is Greek shipping. We need to explain to young people what life at sea really means today. No one goes on a two-and-a-half-year voyage anymore. Four to five months is the maximum time spent at sea, while wages are particularly high, with a captain on an LNG ship earning up to 17,000 euros a month and an engineer up to 14,000 euros,” he emphasized.
Referring to international developments, he noted that geopolitical crises affect the global economy as a whole, as they can lead to increases in energy costs, inflation, and commodity prices. In this context, he emphasized that Greece has advocated a realistic approach in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) discussions on the decarbonization of shipping, so that the green transition can proceed, but not at a pace that would result in inflation and rising costs and place a burden on European economies and societies.
Finally, he presented the key initiatives of the AIGIS 2 program for the modernization of the Hellenic Coast Guard, noting that the new Operations Center will utilize artificial intelligence, satellite data, drones, sensors, and modern surveillance systems, providing a complete real-time operational picture and substantially enhancing the protection of the country’s maritime borders and critical maritime infrastructure.