Greece's Posidonia maritime exhibition to be largest in five decades

As the global maritime community sets sail for the opening of the 25th Posidonia maritime exhibition here on June 6, the Greek organizers announced on Thursday this year's event would be the largest in its five-decade-long history.

Over 1,800 exhibitors from 89 countries will participate and some 20,000 visitors are expected to gather at the Athens Metropolitan Expo that has grown by 15 percent in size compared to the previous event, Theodore Vokos, executive director of Posidonia Exhibitions told a press conference at Piraeus port.

At the event, some of the world's most prominent executives of an industry which carries around 90 percent of world trade will be exchanging views and exploring business partnerships until June 10.

Despite the rough time in the global industry and the Greek national economy in recent years, currently, the Greek-owned fleet comprises 4,585 ships, representing 19.6 percent of the world's deadweight tonnage.

The exhibition, which is organized under the auspices of the Greek shipping community, is presented as an event promoting the achievements of Greece in the maritime industry.

"All should be assured that our hospitable country can successfully meet the highest goals even in difficult times," Greek shipping minister Theodore Dritsas said on Thursday.

Yannis Moralis, mayor of Piraeus, Greece's largest port, hoped that in the future Posidonia (named after Poseidon, the God of the Sea in the ancient Greek mythology) would be hosted at Piraeus.

Posidonia 2016 hosts 19 national pavilions this year and the biggest is once again the Chinese one, covering some 1,000 square meters, organizers noted, highlighting the close ties between Greece and China in the maritime field for several decades.

John Lyras, chairman of the Posidonia coordinating committee, said bilateral cooperation in the shipyard sector, cargo transports, and the Chinese investments in Piraeus port in recent years were the reasons behind China's impressive presence.

"I am happy that our two countries, which are very different in size and in population, but very close in history and culture, have this very close cooperation and mutual respect and we hope that this will continue and I am sure it will in the decades to come," Lyras told Xinhua.

"The enormous Chinese participation this year, as well as cooperation at Piraeus port, are two important signs of this long relation which I believe will last for several years to come and can bring multiple benefits to our country," Vokos added.

According to organizers' estimates, Greece's hospitality sector will bring in some 60 million euros (66.92 million U.S. dollars) in revenue during the exhibition and the three days of parallel sports events ahead of the opening ceremony. Endit