Business Luncheon in honour of the GSCC | 24 April 2024
Official event in honor of the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee by the British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce
In a highly successful and warm event held under the auspices of the British Embassy in Athens on Wednesday, April 24, the Hellenic-British Chamber of Commerce honored the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee (Hellenic Shipping Cooperation Committee of London), for its long-standing presence and contribution to the strengthening and promotion of Greek-British maritime relations, which count many years of parallel and cooperative progress
Matthew Lodge, British Ambassador to Greece, Christos Stylianidis, Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, and Charalambos G. Fafalios, President of the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee, participated in the official dinner held at the Piraeus Maritime Club.
The event took place in the presence of representatives of the political leadership, prominent Greek and foreign businessmen from the shipping industry, many members of the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee, the Hellenic-British Chamber and other institutional bodies, high-ranking executives from important sectors of the economy, as well as representatives of the press.
Welcoming the participants, Anna Kalliani, Greek President of the Hellenic-British Chamber, referred to the historical role of the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee in terms of the connection between Greece and the United Kingdom in shipping, stressing that in today’s time, it is crucial to highlight our history, transmitting it to the new generations of standards.
She pointed out that society does not recognize the scope of the global contribution of Greek shipping to the Greek and global economy, as well as the scope of the diverse social and cultural work of its members.
Continuing her speech, she referred to the prospects for strengthening bilateral relations in the wider shipping industry due to the two countries’ policies, in areas such as shipping investments, the transition to the green economy, innovation ecosystems, and risk management.
In closing, she underlined the intention of the Hellenic-British Chamber to assist in this direction in cooperation with its members.
In his opening address, the British Ambassador to Greece, Matthew Lodge, among others, said: “Our two countries share a proud maritime history and tradition, which is also reflected in their recent election to the IMO Executive Council, a landmark event for which I am deeply proud of. And just as we have traditionally built on our heritage to forge a close partnership on the international stage, let us come together again, leveraging our strengths to chart a path to a sustainable future of prosperity in shipping and global trade.”
Afterward, the British Ambassador invited Christos Stylianidis, Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, to the podium, who said in his speech: “Greece and the United Kingdom are marching together, in close cooperation, both to achieve the green transition and to develop – planning – radical but also realistic policies”.
The important work of the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee was prefaced by Manos Lorentzos, at the Business Luncheon in honour of the GSCC, Greek Vice-President of the Hellenic-British Chamber and CEO of Seascope and pointed out: “One will hardly find detailed historical reviews of the Committee by searching the internet, which is not usual for an Organization that will be closed soon its 90 years of activity. On the contrary, you will find plenty of analysis by the Committee itself on all the important issues that concern Greek and global shipping from time to time. Of course, being based in London, it has the advantage of being close to and in constant dialogue with all the important shipping agencies and organizations. It is an example of successful cooperation in an industry where individual initiative is at the forefront.”
Then, at the Business Luncheon in honour of the GSCC, followed the speech of Charalambos G. Fafalios, President of the Hellenic Shipping Cooperation Committee of London, who said: “It is a great honor for our Organization, the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee, to be awarded by the Hellenic-British Chamber of Commerce. After a full 90 years of representing the Greek shipping community in the United Kingdom, and in particular, in London, the Committee has moved very flexibly over time according to the needs of its members and seeing the challenges facing the Greek and global shipping industry.
Starting in 1935 as the Greek Shipping Stabilization Committee, it was and is the role of the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee in close cooperation with the Hellenic Shipowners’ Association to listen, advise, and propose solutions to many of the challenges of the global shipping industry. This dynamic perspective, I am sure will continue in the future with the help of a very specialized Board of Directors and an active Secretariat”.
After the speeches, the Presidents of the Hellenic-British Chamber Anna Kalliani and Kenny Evangelou, and the Greek Vice-President Manos Lorentzos, presented an honorary award to the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee for the work it has continuously carried out for the last almost 90 years and its valuable contribution to strengthening and promotion of Greek-British maritime relations. The award was received by Charalambos G. Fafalios, President of the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee.
