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The Minister of Economy, Development and Commercial Shipping Louka Katzeli met with representatives of the Greek Ship Owners Organization in London and asked them to create an aid fund for support and restoration of Greek economy. According to the Ministrer right now the shipping industry is one of the economy’s branches, which has not been affected deeply by the economic stagnation and explained: “We were convinced that the economic crisis did not seriously hurt Greek shipping in comparison to the same sector in other countries. Shipping business in Greece is getting out of this crisis and right now is investing in new ships, which shows the strength of our shipping industry and the dynamics Greek business has on the international markets.”

Minister Katzeli stressed the necessity of a tight cooperation of the state with the private sector in order to quickly exit the recession. Louka Katzeli said that one of the main priorities of shipping development is creating new stimuli for attracting young people to shipping professions, improving port infrastructure in the country and improving the sea tourism conditions through developing commercial shipping.

The Greek ship owner representatives expressed their worries towards PASOK’s decision to combine key ministries like the ones of economy and shipping. The main goal of the ministry is the support and development of Greek shipping as well as the Greek economy as a whole, said Mrs. Katzeli and added: “There is no doubt that shipping and the shipping industry have the need of an organized and competent ministry, which should ensure quality and effective services. I assured all representatives that the main goal of the current ministry is to improve and not lower the quality of the offered services.”