Maritime and Island Policy Minister Vassilis Kikilias, speaking at the Posidonia press conference on Thursday.
The opening of the Posidonia exhibition on Monday came with the Greek government flexing its political muscle in the global shipping industry, as it stressed that the sector must first worry about its survival amid geopolitical turbulence in the world and then refocus on its decarbonization target, also known as net zero framework.
The biggest shipping event in the world, with an expected 40,000 visitors and over 80 countries participating, began Monday evening at the Metropolitan Expo, near the Athens airport, and will last until Friday.
This year the biennial event has coincided with the crisis in the Gulf, as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and fuel prices soar as supply delays are followed by shortages.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said at Monday’s event that the geopolitical importance of shipping is being highlighted more than in recent years and is a source of strength for Greece.
