Northern Greece positioned as maritime hub to boost the blue economy

Greek shipping officials, led by Deputy Minister Kostas Gkioulas, welcomed the launch of a maritime‑cluster initiative for Macedonia‑Thrace and Northern Greece at the 7th Balkan Forum in Thessaloniki. The forum theme – “Shipping and Northern Greece: challenges, opportunities and prospects” – highlighted the sector’s role as a pillar of the national economy and the need to shift more added value from sea to land.

The plan stresses the geographic advantage of the region, where Aegean sea routes meet Balkan, Central and Eastern European markets. Thessaloniki is slated to become a multimodal hub linking sea lanes with rail and road networks, while Kavala and Alexandroupoli are earmarked as strategic nodes for maritime transport, energy security and supply‑chain resilience. The proposal calls for integrated logistics, modern storage, digital services and green infrastructure to turn ports into gateways for Southeast Europe.

Supported by the Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Piraeus, the Union of Greek Shipowners, the Naval Chamber of Greece and the Greek Shipyards Union, the “Maritime Hellas” cluster aims to create a comprehensive maritime ecosystem. This would connect shipping firms, export manufacturers, ship‑repair yards, universities, research centres, startups and technology providers. The initiative also taps the green transition of shipping, promoting alternative fuels, vessel energy efficiency, port electrification and circular‑economy projects to attract investment and specialised jobs.

Overall, the strategy seeks to leverage Greece’s reputation in shipping to generate higher value for domestic businesses, products and workers, positioning Northern Greece as a new development arm of the country’s blue economy.