Visit of representatives of the Zhejiang Provincial Port & Waterway Management Center to the Association’s offices

On Monday, September 22, the Hellenic Association of Banking & Financial Executives of Shipping welcomed at its premises a high-level delegation from the Zhejiang Provincial Port and Waterway Management Center.

The delegation was led by Ms. Ye Hong, Director of the Zhejiang Provincial Port & Waterway Management Center, and included:

Mr. Tang Xijun, President of the Zhejiang Scientific Research Institute of Transport, Ms. Chen Wenyan, Director of the Comprehensive Department of the Zhejiang Provincial Port & Waterway Management Center,

Mr. Dai Jianfeng, Director of the Fishing Vessel Inspection Department of the Zhejiang Provincial Port & Waterway Management, Ms. Hao Yingjun, Deputy Director of the Port & Waterway Institute, Zhejiang Scientific Research Institute of Transport. From the Association at the meeting were Mr. George Xiradakis- President, Ms. Katerina Fitsiou-Treasurer, and Mr. Konstantinos Ioannou-Deputy Secretary General.

Following the introductions, Mr. Xiradakis welcomed the delegation and referred to the activities of the Association and its office in Shanghai, which was opened following the invitation of the Chinese government with the aim of facilitating financial relations between the two largest maritime states.

Ms. Hong, thanking the representatives of the Board of Directors of the Association for the meeting, introduced her colleagues and provided information about the Zhejiang region and about the port of Zhejiang. The Zhejiang Provincial Port is part of a cluster of ports within the Zhejiang province of China, which includes the port of Ningbo Zhoushan, being the largest port in container traffic worldwide. However, she referred to the challenges they face in other areas of services related to shipping, as well as the absence of shipping financing organizations, a sector they plan to improve.

Mr. Xiradakis pointed out that the role of the Association is primarily the effort to exchange experiences and proposals in order for both Greek and Chinese organizations and companies to reap the greatest possible benefits. In this context, the Association has established bilateral relations with financial centers in China and Europe and is strengthening the presence of executives on both sides.

The meeting closed with an invitation from Ms. Ye Hong to continue the communication and she invited the members of the Association and the Board of Directors to visit Zheijang.  Mr. Xiradakis promised to include a visit to the Zhejiang region in the Association’s program for the upcoming winter.