Greece eager to lure London’s Hellenic Shipping Community                 2/6/2008

230 Ship Building & repair specialists amongst Posidonia’s record 1,700 exhibitors as global maritime community lines up for biggest industry show in history

As the eyes of the global maritime community turn to Athens and Piraeus for Posidonia 2008, Greece is eagerly anticipating the benefits from the potential repatriation of a significant number of London-based Greek shipowners following the British government’s recent tax reforms announcement.

And while Greece rejoices at the arrival of more than 1,700 exhibitors and 16,000 visitors who have converged to Posidonia 2008 for what has been dubbed as the biggest and most international shipping exhibition ever, industry analysts say that the windfall from the possible return to Piraeus of some of the 100 London-headquartered shipowners is going to help existing plans designed to establish the country’s biggest port as a major global shipping centre.

Addressing an international VIP audience during the official opening ceremony of Posidonia’s 21st edition today (June 2nd), Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis reiterated his government’s intentions to boost Piraeus’ potential as a global shipping centre. “This government has created a regulatory and legislative environment which encourages Greek shipowners to invest in their homeland. In 2006, shipping contributed Euro 14 billion to the Greek economy. Last year, the industry brought Euro 17 billion. Today, Piraeus is home to 1,300 shipping companies which employ more than 12,000 professionals. Additionally, a total of 250,000 people work in the city in vertical sectors which support the shipping industry.”

Already, a number of Greek shipowners have or are in the process of setting up their operations to Piraeus as a result of the British government’s decision to introduce tax on UK-based companies’ income gained abroad. According to the British Chamber of Shipping, London’s Greek shipowning families employ thousands of medium and high ranking executives.

Greek shipping controls 8.7 per cent of the world’s fleet with 4,173 vessels and a 261 million deadweight tons (dwt) capacity, equivalent to 16.4 percent of the global shipping industry. Last year, Greek shipping contributed US$ 17 billion to the country’s economy accounting for seven percent of its GDP.

“Greek shipping is the lighthouse of the global maritime industry and Posidonia is the compass with its needle permanently pointing to Greece inviting the world’s shipping community to the biggest seafaring nation,” said Themistocles Vokos, Chairman, Posidonia Exhibitions S.A., the organiser of the event. “The show has grown exponentially since its inception four decades ago and today we are proud of its success and global appeal as the world’s biggest and most international shipping trade exhibition.”

A total of 1,710 exhibitors from a record 82 countries and territories are participating at this year’s show which unfolds over an expansive area of 28,100 square metres at the Hellenikon Exhibition Centre (HEC). Every sector of the shipping industry is present, from anchor manufacturers to marine lubricant suppliers. As the home maritime event of the Greek shipowning community, Posidonia 2008 has fittingly attracted approximately 230 shipbuilding and ship repair specialists – 13 per cent of the event’s total exhibitor number.

Posidonia 2008 is sponsored by the Ministry of Mercantile Marine, The Aegean and Island Policy, the Municipality of Piraeus, the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, the Union of Greek Shipowners, the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee, the Mediterranean Cargo Vessels Shipowners Union, the Association of Greek Coastal Shipping Companies and the Association of Greek Passenger Shipping Companies.

For additional information, press enquiries should be directed to:
Stavi Spanou, Press Officer, tel.: +30 210 9609738, e-mail: press@posidonia-events.com
Theodore Vokos, Project Manager, tel.: +30 210 4283608, e-mail: tnv@posidonia-events.com

The Posidonia 2008 Press Office is sponsored by Dubai Maritime City

Posidonia Events