Shipping Summit in Athens focuses on navigating global megatrends, mitigating risk

Shipping sector leaders and top-level government officials attended the Shipping Summit at the Athens Conservatory on Wednesday.
The Summit's title was "Shaping the Future of Shipping Summit: Navigating global megatrends, mitigating risk and the role of shipping in delivering economic security and prosperity". The event was organized by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS).
Remarks were made by Maritime Affairs Minister Vassilis Kikilias, who paid particular honor to the presidents of UGS Melina Travlou and of ICS Emanuele Grimaldi. Kikilias particularly noted the collaboration of private and public sectors for shipping's transition to the new era, Greece's role in shipping, and the sector's contribution during the coronavirus pandemic in transporting necessary medical supplies. In statements following the event, the minister stressed that shipping, along with tourism, real estate and services, is one of Greece's basic pillars of the GDP.
Keynote addresses were delivered by European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas and People's Republic of China Deputy Minister of Transport Fu Xuyin.
In the context of the summit, Kikilias met earlier in the day in central Athens with government officials of other countries and shipping industry representatives, while he also talked with China's deputy transport minister.
In his address, Tzitzikostas said that the shipping sector needs long-term and insightful strategies, while it can also play a vital role in Europe's security. "We are not asking the shipping industry to assume this burden on its own. Strategies of this size must be built and implemented with all interested parties participating."
In terms of tariffs, he said the European Commission will always seek solutions through negotiation, while he also called for securing the supply chains through a stricter management of threats, stronger security in cyberspace and strong planning of crisis scenarios on ships and at ports.