The need for more young people to turn to maritime professions, which offer high salaries and significant employment prospects, was emphasized by the Minister of Shipping Vasilis Kikilias during his speech at the 7th Balkan Forum on the topic "Shipping and Northern Greece: Challenges, Opportunities and Prospects".
The minister announced an information campaign in schools, academies, universities and local communities, aiming to highlight the opportunities that shipping offers to young people.
"We need to speak again to the average Greek family - and especially here in Macedonia - about sea professions," he characteristically stated.
Mr. Kikilias provided data on salaries in ocean-going shipping, noting that a young captain can receive from 15,000 to 17,000 euros per month, while the earnings of engineers range between 13,000 and 15,000 euros monthly.
High salaries are also recorded in specialties such as electricians and hotel staff services on ships.
From 17 to 68 cruise ships
Referring to the development of cruising in Thessaloniki, the minister recalled that when he took over the Ministry of Tourism he had set as a goal the return of the city to the cruise map. As he said, that effort was initially met with skepticism, however within four years cruise ship arrivals increased from 17 to 68.
According to him, this development creates multiplier benefits for the local economy, as it boosts catering, trade, services, logistics and overall the economic activity of Thessaloniki.
Investments of 200 million euros in the port
Mr. Kikilias particularly focused on the agreement for investments of about 200 million euros in the port of Thessaloniki, pointing out that the extension of the 6th pier will allow the reception of larger commercial ships and will strengthen the city's role as a transit hub for Southeastern Europe.
At the same time, he emphasized that the development of port infrastructure must be combined with modern road and rail networks, as well as with investments in the field of logistics and energy.
Investments of 200 million euros in the port
He made special reference to the agreement signed a few months ago for infrastructure projects, amounting to about 200 million euros at the port of Thessaloniki. As he noted, the extension of the 6th pier will allow the approach of larger and more modern commercial ships, enhancing cargo handling and Thessaloniki's position as a transit hub for SE Europe.
At the same time, he emphasized that the development of the port acquires real value when it is connected with modern rail and road infrastructure, with logistics and with the energy investments being implemented in Northern Greece.
The role of Northern Greece
The minister pointed out that the development perspective concerns not only Thessaloniki, but the entire network of ports in Northern Greece, with references to Alexandroupoli, Kavala and their connections with the major road and rail axes.
As he said, the development of port infrastructure can work complementarily with tourism, religious tourism, wine tourism, gastronomy, marinas and overall the services being developed in the region.
He also estimated that the upgrading of infrastructure will create new jobs, strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises and increase the value of real estate in local communities.
Shipping as a strategic advantage for the country
Mr. Kikilias described Greek shipping as a strategic advantage for the country, noting that, despite the small size of the Greek economy in the EU, Greece remains the leading power in global ocean-going shipping.
At the same time, he referred to the European negotiations on the future of shipping, arguing that the government worked to prevent policies that would excessively burden shipping and, consequently, the cost of transport and product prices.
Among other things, he called on local government and port fund bodies to cooperate with the ministry to exploit the development potential of Northern Greece. "We do not wait for others to change our fate. We take matters into our own hands and shape the future of our children," he characteristically stated.
Source: ANA-MPA