Greek PM weighs in to back revival of national flag

[Angelos]

KOSTAS Karamanlis, the prime minister of Greece, has thrown his full weight behind ambitions to revive the Greek flag, writes Julian Bray.

He said his government was “thoughtfully and diligently” considering plans to improve the international competitiveness of the national shipping register.

His comments were made in response to a question following a speech given to an invited audience at the City of London University’s Cass Business School.

Mr Karamanlis said: “One of the things we are discussing with shipping industry representatives is how to make the Greek flag more attractive. We are discussing it very thoughtfully and diligently.”

Despite Greek owners controlling around 3,400 ships representing 16% of the world fleet, a relatively small proportion flies the Greek flag.

Greek shipping remained an important source of earnings, as well as a matter of national pride, said Mr Karamanlis. He praised the sector’s record of global entrepreneurship which set a good example for other Greek businesses.

Revenues from Greek ship-ping exceeded those from tourism for the first time last year, underlining its importance to the economy.

Greece was pursuing policies to encourage business and attract foreign investment, said Mr Karamanlis, although he denied that this amounted in effect to an appeal for Greek shipowners based overseas to return home.

“We are not trying to attract Greek entrepreneurs away from anywhere other than Greece,” he said. “This should not be seen in terms of competition.”

Links with other leading maritime centres, such as London, should be strengthened for mutual benefit, said Mr Karamanlis.

“We are turning our country into an international ship-ping and tourism centre,” he added.

City University’s Professor Costas Grammenos paid tribute to the prime minister’s vision of developing a more dynamic Greek economy and his appreciation of the contribution by Greek shipowners.

Source: LloydsList