“The relationship between Greece and the US is at a very high level. It is being upgraded and strengthened. In energy, shipyards and shipping, great opportunities are opening up in the near future. Our duty is to exploit them,” said the Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, at the 15th Capital Link taking place in Athens, noting that “the US produces and exports LNG, while the Greek-owned fleet, with 5,700 ships, constitutes 20% of the global fleet and 24.5% of the global LNG carrier capacity. It is obvious that we can work closely together to achieve new jobs and growth, through collaborations in energy and its transportation.”
The Minister referred to the potential that Greece has to emerge as a key energy center: “Greece is a gateway for LNG from various countries, such as the USA, facilitating gas flows to meet the energy needs of other countries. We are thus contributing to the energy security of both the country itself and the entire Southeastern Europe.”
Referring to his recent trip to the United States, Mr. Kikilias noted: “I had consecutive meetings in Athens and Washington with the US Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, responsible for coordinating energy policy, the Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and senior State Department officials, as well as with investment banks, senators, governors, and the private sector. The talks were productive. There is a clear will to cooperate. Our teams are working together on a realistic, workable plan that will be presented in the coming months.”
Finally, referring to the importance of Capital Link, the Minister underlined: “Capital Link has evolved into an institution. It is a meeting point for people from the market and politics, successful Greek shipowners, diplomats and business executives. Such events are useful, they provide space for the exchange of ideas and the formulation of development policies. When people meet and share plans and visions, positive results always emerge.”
