Greece: PontaSud – Chiquera Swanepoel
The event was honored with the presence of H.E. Ambassadors of Algeria, Zaina Benhabouche, and Mexico, Alejandro Garcia Moreno, flanked by officials from their diplomatic missions, high-ranking officials of the Coast Guard and the Navy. The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vassilis Korkidis, opened the event with a warm welcome to those present and the Mayor of Piraeus, Yiannis Moralis, praised the work of the Chamber and its stakeholders over the years, while announcing the inclusion of the historic building in the OCHE, for its adaptation to the new bioclimatic parameters that will make it “green”.
The deputy governors of Attica, Alexandra Palli-Giannakopoulou, and Piraeus, Stavroula Antonakou, referred to the Chamber’s contribution to the development of business and, more generally, the local and not only economy. During the event, which took place as part of the annual “Sea Days 2025” event of the Municipality of Piraeus, greetings were delivered by the rectors of PA.PEI, Yiannis Sfakianakis, and of PADA, Panagiotis Kaldis, while special reference was made to the professional prospects of young people in the field of shipping by the professor and president of the maritime department of PA.PEI, Yiannis Theotokas, and the associate professor of the Naval Engineering department of PADA, Georgios Livanos.
The Chamber, continuing the now established annual awarding of the first admitted students to the departments of Maritime Studies of PA.PEI. and Naval Engineering of PADA, for the academic year 2024-2025, awarded the first admitted student to the PA.PEI department, Katerina-Anna Platykeli, by the Mayor of our city, Ioannis Moralis, and the first admitted student to the PADA department, Eleni Maggana, by the Deputy Governor of Attica, Alexandra Palli-Giannakopoulou.
“The Hellenic Maritime and Shipping Association is celebrating its 120th anniversary, as part of the 2025 Sea Days celebrations. The Hellenic Maritime and Shipping Association, which is a cornerstone of the business life of Piraeus and the wider region, has made a decisive contribution to the development and strengthening of entrepreneurship in Greece, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and not only, and promoting relations with international markets and organizations. The celebration of the 120th anniversary of the Hellenic Maritime and Shipping Association can be an opportunity to highlight its history, but also an opportunity to set its goals for the future, strengthening its role in the Greek business community.”, said, among other things, the president, Vasilis Korkidis, in his greeting.
The Chamber’s illustrious history and valuable contribution, from its creation to the present day, was presented with a short video and references to key points in its journey. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry, contributing to the cultural upgrading of the city of Piraeus, supported the creation of the documentary on the theme “Routes with the Statues, Busts and Monuments of Piraeus”, which was presented at the end of the event in a particularly festive atmosphere, which was enhanced by the musical interlude of the tenors “The Three Tenors Project”, accompanied on the piano by the maestro, Benjamin Hadjikoumbaroglou. A reception followed in honor of the official guests and journalists, at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Club.
