An invitation to Greek and Chinese companies to have more synergies, with the aim of further improving the business climate between Greece and China, was addressed by Chinese officials on the occasion of the official presentation of the free trade zone of China (Lingang Special Area of ​​China) in the event hall of PPA.

Mr. Zhao Yihuai deputy director of the economic zone, invited Greek businessmen to visit China’s Lingang Special Free Trade Zone for the development of further bilateral cooperation. He added that in this context, the first direct air route between Shanghai and Athens also started on December 22, 2022, which offers even greater possibilities.

“Greece is the beginning of European civilization with rich natural resources and rapid development in the fields of shipping, trade and economy. We attach great importance to bilateral cooperation,” he said. He added that the development of Lingang Special Area in China has attracted global attention and interest from world-renowned enterprises such as Tesla, Maersk, GE Aviation and Novo Nordisk.

According to Chinese officials, the creation of the Special Area covers an area of ​​119.5 square kilometers, along the southeastern edge of Shanghai, while providing facilities for free trade, investment and improving the business climate. Both China and Shanghai have placed great emphasis on the development of the Special Zone, thereby introducing multiple supportive policies and measures.

An open and modern industrial system with an accumulation of cutting-edge industries including integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, biomedical, civil aviation, high-tech equipment manufacturing, intelligent new energy vehicles, new energy and new materials has been gathered in the region. .

Recent years have seen significant growth in the main economic indicators of the Lingang Special Region, which recorded an annual growth of 30% in the year 2022.

The general secretary of the Aegean and Islands Policy, Manolis Koutoulakis who attended the event spoke of investment challenges and opportunities in the shipping industry on a bilateral basis and with mutual value for both governments and Greek and Chinese businesses. He added that technology and innovation in the field of maritime transport and shipping is a high priority in the context of the National and International Strategy of the Greek Public Maritime Policy.

He also pointed out that more than 1,487 companies active in ocean shipping are established in Greece and mainly in Piraeus, making the country’s first port a world-class shipping center as well as a “know-how” center in terms of technical training, payment and commercial management of ships. He also stated that the ships managed by companies established in Greece have today reached historically high levels, breaking the record of 5,000 ocean-going ships.

With reference to Greece-China relations, Mr. Koutoulakis added that the mutual interest in expanding these relations should be taken for granted, since, as he said, Greek shipowners are already an important partner in terms of investments in China and in Chinese shipyards and technology companies.

– Chinese delegation from Jiangsu province, in the E.V.E.P.

The administration of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry met with a multi-member Chinese delegation from Jiangsu province, with the main topic being the investigation of bilateral trade and economic issues.

The president of EBEP, Vassilis Korkidis, following the meeting that the bureau had with the Ambassador of China to Greece, Mr. Xiao Junzheng, referred to the breadth of the field of development of collaborations, but also synergies, with companies located in Jiangsu province, emphasizing the importance of developing the export activities of Greek companies from the wider Piraeus area to the specific province, but also more generally, to the wider Chinese market.

Mr. Korkidis recalled that the Greek shipyard “builds” a significant number of commercial ships in Chinese yards and referred to the possibilities of cooperation between Greek companies in the field of shipbuilding repairs, and not only, with Chinese shipyards. The Greek companies in the wider Piraeus area that manufacture all types of materials and equip the ships, deserve the attention, not only of the Chinese shipyards, in which Greek shipowners build their ships, but also in general, of the Asian and European shipyards, he emphasized.

Piraeus, said the president of the E.V.E.P., hopes to keep open the “door” of cooperation with Chinese companies, centered on the port of Piraeus, after the recent meeting he had with the president of the PPA -COSCO, YU Zeng Gang, where both sides’ good intentions for cooperation were established.