The strategic importance of the shipbuilding industry, the need to strengthen Greek defence production and the new opportunities created by European programmes for Greek industry were highlighted by Ioannis Bouras – Major General / Director-General of the General Directorate for Defence Equipment and Investments (GDEI), at the BLUE STRATEGY SUMMIT 2026 conference, organised by the Hellenic Shipbuilders’ Association at the InterContinental Athens on Monday 25 May under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic, with the support of the Ministries of National Defence, Environment and Energy, Development, Labour and Social Security, Infrastructure and Transport, and Shipping and Island Policy.
Mr Bouras emphasised the need to formulate a comprehensive national maritime strategy, stressing that it should link «industry, defence and security, energy and industrial production».
As he stated, «the shipbuilding industry is a strategic capability», whilst the repair of merchant and naval vessels is directly linked to national sovereignty and economic resilience. He also emphasised that, through the European EDIP and SAFE programmes, Greek shipyards can be transformed into modern industrial facilities with enhanced technological and export potential, noting that the future of maritime power «will be technological» and will require collaboration between industry, universities, start-ups and European programmes.
Watch the entire EEN Blue Strategy Summit 2026, as broadcast live on its YouTube channel, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po-OwjiZSYQ