By Paris Tsirigotis

“Connection, cooperation and the promotion of investment and development agreements in shipping and port infrastructure will help strengthen regional stability, provide security and bring prosperity to our countries,” Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, said at the “TransMEA 2025” conference in Cairo.

Kikilias pointed out that “strengthening cooperation between Greece and Egypt in these areas is not only a matter of diplomacy, but a real need for the development of the Mediterranean.”

The minister noted that Greece, which has the world’s largest merchant fleet, maintains long-standing ties with Egypt. The two countries, he said, are moving forward with joint investments to upgrade ports and related infrastructure.

He underlined the importance of investment agreements and collaborations in maritime transport, ports, infrastructure and energy.

Regarding the Greece-Egypt energy interconnection, he noted that “in the coming years, a major investment will be made between Egypt and Greece, the electricity cable from Egypt to Greece and then electricity will be provided to the rest of the European Union.” Concluding, he highlighted the importance of collaborations: “I hope that we can all work together, through trade, investment and energy agreements, which will help the two peoples to progress and improve their standard of living. Cooperation and interconnection can offer stability, security and development to both countries.”

Strengthening cooperation in shipping, ports, and international organizations

The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, met with Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Transport, Kamel Al Wazir, in Cairo, on the sidelines of the “TransMEA 2025” International Conference.

During the discussion, it was noted that the historical ties between Greece and Egypt, which were formed over centuries through the sea routes of the Eastern Mediterranean, remain strong and are gaining new momentum.

Particular reference was made to the long-standing presence of Greek shipping and entrepreneurship in the Egyptian economy, which demonstrates the depth of relations between the two countries.

As emphasized, the Greek-owned merchant fleet has historically been one of the most reliable means of transporting energy internationally, a fact that strengthens the prospects for cooperation in the energy sector, especially after the recent agreements announced between Greece and the United States.

The special role of the Suez Canal was also highlighted, as Greek companies are already investing in combating pollution, while the procedures for the Egypt-Greece electrical interconnection are also progressing.

In this context, the two sides discussed the expansion of cooperation in shipping, ports and international organizations, with an emphasis on the IMO.