During the first panel of the Naftemporiki conference on the Greek maritime ecosystem, George Alexandratos, President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, underscored the importance of uniting and enhancing the Greek shipping cluster by promoting strategic visibility and engaging the youth.
He highlighted that the Greek shipping cluster already exists and is known as Maritime Hellas. “A cluster is simply a group. In Greece, it exists, and we must all support it. Maritime Hellas acts as a collective for elected representatives, enabling entrepreneurs to present their work through collaboration,” he stated.
Alexandratos outlined five essential steps that need to be taken:
- **Unification under Maritime Hellas:**
“We must unite under a single, cohesive cluster. That cluster is Maritime Hellas,” he declared. - **Global marketing of the cluster:**
“Here in Greece, we must recognize that the market is global. While we lead in shipping, there are over 100 professions linked directly or indirectly to the industry—most people are unaware of this,” he stressed. - **Emphasis on maritime tourism:**
Alexandratos pointed out that maritime tourism presents a wealth of opportunities for the Greek economy and should be prioritized strategically. - **Maximizing shipyards:**
He reiterated the crucial need to effectively leverage the country’s shipbuilding infrastructure, highlighting its role in strengthening the cluster. - **Engagement with the younger generation:**
“We need to modernize. We want young men and women to enter the industry, but shipping needs to connect with them. It must become appealing to attract the next generation,” he remarked, emphasizing the urgent necessity to refresh the sector’s workforce.
Through his insights, Alexandratos laid a foundation for a more outward-looking, cohesive, and contemporary maritime policy, one that can fully leverage the strengths of the Greek shipping cluster.
