The Role of Greece in International Freight Flows in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean

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The Role of Greece in International Freight Flows in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean UNECE and EUSDR PA1b WORKSHOP Regional Rail Connectivity Thursday & Friday, 3‐4 October 2019, Belgrade, Serbia Hellenic Logistics Association The role of Greece in international freight flows in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean 2019 Nicholas Rodopoulos Chairman of the Hellenic Logistics Association Member of the National Council for Logistics Development, Ministry of Economics & Development The role of Greece in international freight flows in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean Global Supply Chains and the European market • Industry production is mainly located in Asia with major key player, China • Greece is the new Logistics Hub • Piraeus is one of the deepest ports in the Mediterranean and with the shortest distance from Suez Canal • Thessaloniki Port is the closest hub to the Balkans and Southeast Europe • Alexandroupolis Port connects or will connect, via rail, Bulgaria and Romania The role of Greece in international freight flows in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean 2 The propellers brought the supply chain into the foreground The privatization of the port of Piraeus awakened the political and business world. Europe understood the importance of Greece in the big picture of European Supply Chains. The role of Greece in international freight flows in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean 3 Growth of Major Mediterranean Ports The role of Greece in international freight flows in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean 4 Greek Ports Major Mediterranean Container Hubs • The Rail Dardanellia • 50% Export By Pass Freights • Major Gateway for PIRAEUS the Balkans & Southeast Europe 2018 4.9 mil TEU 2019 est. 6 mil THESSALONIKI Piraeus 2018 400k TEU • Transshipment • Transit 2019 est. 500k For Central Europe The role of Greece in international freight flows in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean 5 Most of the trade (import – export) of our region uses Thessaloniki port The role of Greece in international freight flows in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean 6 Greek International Trade in SE Europe & the Balkans Greece trades annually about 4.5 billion tons of goods with neighboring EU Member 5 States and an additional EUR 1.8 billion 4.5 4.5 with the Western Balkans (ELSTAT 2016). 4 Nevertheless, road and rail links still have 3.5 weaknesses in parts with inadequate 3 infrastructures, delays and unreliability in 2.5 border crossing times. 2 1.8 1.5 It is necessary to improve international 1 connectivity in order to strengthen the 0.5 range of trade links to, from and through 0 Greece and to create synergies with Trade in tons Trade in tons neighboring freight hubs in the European Neighboring EU Member West Balkans network. (Transport Strategic Master Plan 2019). The role of Greece in international freight flows in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean 7 Greek International Trade in SE Europe & the Balkans A challenge emerges that can be transformed from an opportunity to the development and progress of the people of our region. It is necessary to improve • International connectivity • Strengthen the range of trade links to, from and through Greece • Create synergies with neighboring freight hubs in the European network. • Simplify cross-border procedures • Create a Single Window Operation Model • Create Digital Trade & Transport Community Systems We have much more to unite us than what separates us. The role of Greece in international freight flows in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean 8 ΕΕL Email [email protected] visit our website at www.eel.gr The role of Greece in international freight flows in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean.
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