The Greek Ministry of Commercial Fleet announced that it is negotiating with the Syrian authorities for opening a new direct ferry line between the Volos port in central Greece and Syria. Such a ferry route existed in the past but in 1986 it was stopped because of the war in the region. Economists believe that connecting Volos with Syria will give a favorable stimulus for the trade between Greece, the Balkans and Europe as a whole, with the Arab world.

Until the end of April representatives from the Greek Ministry of Commerce will visit Syria, in order to discuss the details of the opening of a new ferry route, which will be done through a cooperation program between Mediterranean countries and the EU. The Ministry also announced that the initiative for this offer comes from Syria.

The Volos port starts operating in 1893. Gradually, together with the city’s industry, it becomes one of the biggest ports in Greece. It serves trade and tourist ships. It had a modern infrastructure, which allows it to serve effectively and quickly different types of loads and different cruise ships.