The high-level meeting, in the presence of the Minister of Development, Takis Theodorikakos, signals the prospect of a strategic cooperation expected to reshape the investment map in Southeastern Europe and the Middle East.
The Saudi minister was accompanied by the CEO of the Saudi Arabian National Industrial Development Organization, Saleh Al-Solami, while the delegation was welcomed by the President and CEO of the ONEX Group and Chairman of the Board of the Union of Greek Shipyards, Panos Xenokostas.
During the visit, the Saudi delegation, in the presence of Mr. Theodorikakos, toured the state-of-the-art facilities of the Shipyards and was thoroughly briefed on the prospects for their further development, as well as the thousands of jobs being created.
Particular emphasis was placed on the contribution of the Shipyards to the revival of the Greek shipbuilding industry, which has been included in strategic investments through initiatives of the Ministry of Development.
The discussions focused on the possibilities of cooperation with industrial and investment bodies of Saudi Arabia not only in the critical sector of shipbuilding and ship repair, but also in the defense industry, opening new prospects for bilateral cooperation.
“Today’s visit is a milestone for our bilateral cooperation. The strong political will expressed by our Crown Prince and Prime Minister and the Greek Prime Minister creates the ideal framework to build a common future of prosperity,” stated Minister Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef.
The focus was on shipbuilding cooperation, with the Saudi minister acknowledging the excellence of the Greek shipyards: “I want to thank the Minister of Development for his significant contribution to strengthening this relationship and for accompanying us on our visit to the shipyards. The ONEX Shipyards are an excellent example of how we, as two countries, are thinking about how we can cooperate.”
Referring to his country’s ambitious shipbuilding program, he stressed: “We are developing a huge shipbuilding complex in Saudi Arabia, the King Salman Maritime Complex, which will cover the entire spectrum of shipyard activities, from repairs and maintenance to shipbuilding. In this sector, we see many similarities and possibilities for knowledge transfer from Greece.”
Mr. Alkhorayef highlighted the importance of energy interconnections and stressed: “Our visit covers the sectors of industry and mining activity to examine the different expansion opportunities, attracting the private sector.”
For his part, Mr. Xenokostas emphasized the importance of the cooperation: “It is a special honor to welcome His Excellency to our Shipyards today. Saudi Arabia is a leading force in the Middle East region and we are excited about the prospects of cooperation in strategic sectors, such as shipbuilding, ship repair, and energy.”
“We are proud that the Greek shipyards and our workers in Elefsina and Syros are proving that what seemed impossible a few years ago in Greece is now a reality. Our satisfied customers and the recent high-level visits from the US, Korea, and today Saudi Arabia confirm that we are just at the beginning of a new era,” added Mr.
Xenokostas.
Concluding, he stressed: “We firmly believe that a collaboration between our countries and our Shipyards will yield significant mutual benefits. With the full support of the State, the government, and all our workers, united we can achieve even more. We are committed every day to becoming better.”
The visit is a result of the top-level political talks between the two countries and highlights Greece’s pivotal role as a bridge between Europe and the Middle East. The Greece-Saudi Arabia cooperation is expected to bring significant benefits to the Greek economy, creating new jobs and strengthening the country’s position as a regional hub of shipbuilding and industrial excellence.
