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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-06-04
CONTENTS
[01] Posidonia 2012 int'l shipping exhibition opens in Athens
[01] Posidonia 2012 int'l shipping exhibition opens in Athens
AMNA/ The international shipping exhibition Posidonia 2012, the world's
most prestigious shipping trade event, opened on Monday evening at the
Metropolitan Expo center at Athens' 'Eleftherios Venizelos' International
Airport (AIA) in Spata.
At a time when Greece is facing the serious challenge of implementing
the structural reforms necessary to re-energise its economy, Posidonia
will highlight the contribution that Greek shipping already makes to
the national economy and underline its future potential, according to
the organisers.
The collective might of Greek shipowners, who last year alone invested
8.5 billion dollars on newbuildings, is a man attraction for the
thousands of maritime, finance and trade sector professionals from around
the world, who will participate and attend the Posidonia Exhibition and
its many business and social programmes, which will run through June 8.
"In the decade between 2000 and 2010, Greek shipping contributed to
the Greek economy a total of 140 billion euro, or half of the country's
public debt as it stood in 2009. Posidonia has followed this trend and
has grown from strength to strength ever since its inaugural event more
than 40 years ago, establishing itself as the world's most prestigious
shipping forum eagerly anticipated every two years by the international
maritime community", said Theodore Vokos, Project Director, Posidonia
Exhibitions.
The state-of-the-art venue will host more than 17,000 people from nearly
90 countries from every corner of the world during a weeklong celebration
of business activities ranging from networking, deal- making, product
launches and conferences. Posidonia also features a rich calendar of
sporting side-events, such as the Lloyd's Register-sponsored sailing
regatta known as Posidonia Cup, the Posidonia Shipsoccer Tournament,
which attracts more than 250 players, and the introduction of the first
Posidonia Golf Tournament, which is hoped to become a staple feature
of the event.
Furthermore, the impressive list of conferences and seminars to be held
at Posidonia 2012 is expected to attract additional finance and sea
trade professionals from the major maritime markets around the world,
increasing demand for hotels and visitor services, providing an important
boost to Greece's tourism industry.
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