“We support investments in shipbuilding and the Greek islands,” the Greek minister of development Takis Theodorikakos emphasised at the Aegean Cuisine Cyclades 2025 Symposium in Syros (an island in the Cyclades, in the Aegean Sea) on Saturday, in the context of the two-day event on agri-food and insularity, co-organised by the Cyclades Chamber of Commerce and the Network of the Insular Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the European Union (INSULEUR).
The minister visited the ONEX Shipyards of Syros, where he was welcomed by general manager Giannis Vamvakousis. He toured the facilities, spoke with workers, and was briefed on the ongoing full upgrade programme, which contributes decisively to the modernisation and strengthening of the shipyards’ competitiveness.
In a statement, he underlined that “the continuous, well-planned, and tangible support of the shipbuilding industry is a strong government priority, because it plays a decisive role in boosting the productivity and competitiveness of the Greek economy, as well as in the security of our homeland, particularly our islands.”
He added that the Syros shipyards are living proof of the great potential of the Greek shipbuilding industry: “We support the management’s efforts to upgrade and modernise the infrastructure, making the shipyards more productive and competitive, safe for workers, and cooperative in a way that ensures significant results.”
Theodorikakos cited Syros as an example of a successful development model, which combines “an innovative primary sector with high-quality products, a tourism based on quality and authenticity, and a production unit with a national strategic role – the Neorio shipyards.” “It is not possible for our country to be among the world’s leading maritime powers and not to be among the leading nations in the shipbuilding industry. This is a priority that we have undertaken,” he stated.
Concluding, he emphasised that the development ministry has included shipbuilding investments under the Strategic Investments framework, adding that “we are working together with industry representatives to connect them with the country’s defence industry, which is also one of our priorities.”
Earlier this month, the Greek minister and Saudi Arabia minister of industry and mineral resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef met at the ministry in Athens and then paid a visit to the Onex Elefsis Shipyards, as the two countries are examining opportunities of cooperation for Saudi investment in Greece’s shipbuilding and defense industries.
The high-level visit to the Greek Elefsis Shipyards, in the presence of the minister of development, signals the prospect of a strategic cooperation with industrial and investment entities of Saudi Arabia in the critical sector of shipbuilding, ship repair and defense industry.
Following the meeting, Theodorikakos said that “For our part, we place particular emphasis on the need to strengthen the shipbuilding industry, with investments in this sector.”
“We agreed to facilitate major Saudi investments in Greece, particularly in shipbuilding, agri-food, pharmaceuticals, and construction, while supporting Greek businesses interested in investing in Saudi Arabia.”
