MMS PLUS NG – Maritime, Aviation, Business, Oil and Gas News Online Newspaper with coverage in Maritime, Oil and Gas, Aviation, Power and Energy as well as Financial News
he signings took place within the framework of Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang’s official three-day visit to Greece.
The deals, among others, include multi-billion-dollar Chinese bank loans to build at least ten Greek-owned ships in Chinese shipyards.
During a joint press conference at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said: “We seek to bring China closer to Europe. Greece can become China’s gateway in Europe, and the start of a European trade corridor.”
These investments might herald a new era for the Greek slumping economy, and blaze the path for future investors.
China is said to have already set sights on a few potential investment opportunities, namely a 67% stake in the Piraeus Port Authority, which is to be privatized as part of Greek government’s shipping revitalization plan.
Chinese shipping company COSCO, already a familiar name in the Greek shipping market, is rumoured to be favoured for this deal.
A number of other Greek ports, including the second largest Port of Thessaloniki, await privatization under a state asset programme mandated under the country’s EU-IMF debt rescue
