EDITORIAL /
Our View: Maritime Nation
CEO, Enterprise Greece
Greece is the world’s leading shipping nation. For millennia, Greeks have plied the seas and the importance of maritime trade for the country cannot be overstated, shipping accounts for 7-8% of Greek GDP.
But the true scope of the maritime economy goes beyond shipping: it embraces sectors such as aquaculture, fisheries, clean energy, transport, shipbuilding and coastal tourism. To nurture and preserve the Blue Economy, the seas – and particularly the Mediterranean – must be governed by international rules and sustainability.
This month, Greece moved forward with the creation of two new maritime parks, one in the Aegean and one in the Ionian – to preserve the natural resources of Greek seas. And, as a current member of the UN Security Council, Greece affirms its commitment to freedom of navigation and the importance of international law in governing the seas.
The Mediterranean Sea has connected the peoples of our region in fruitful exchange of goods and knowledge for millennia. Our future prosperity in the region depends on a just and enlightened management of the Blue Economy that we share.