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Regional Focus

and make them bystanders both on a “Since 2009 no bank system in the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and
national and international level, since it country supports any company in cash Industry and the Panhellenic Exporters

is well known that a lot of cruise ships low capital so Greek ship suppliers have Association in cooperation with the
are supplied in Piraeus from foreign to inance themselves for all costs such as Directorate General of Customs aimed

suppliers,” said Mr Mavrikos.those of products, and operational costs at reducing bureaucracy and instituting

He added that in spite of the fact that and cash low costs since most shipping new procedures that allow the rapid
Greek products – mainly farm producelines and ship owners pay within or after a transportation of food supplies from the

– were of exceptional quality due to60-day period,” said Mr Mavrikos.supplier to the ship and the reduction of
the country’s climatological conditions, the possession, storage and transportation
“
cruisers were being supplied with only cost, which burden the products.
the absolutely necessary products and in “We have already seen some

minimum quantities.results, like the reduction of guarantees, The costs of all
Another challenge the Association the abolition of the Beneits for the

has seen, along with international Execution of Customs Operations these bureaucratic
competition, is that it faces an intricate (DETE), the beginning of operation of
formalities often are
bureaucratic system, which he said ICISNET and the creation of a work

resembled a ‘maze’, within the minimum group for the modiication of the quite above the value
time allowed by the ship to complete the institutional framework regarding ship
of each order.
delivery of each order.supplies,” said Mr Mavrikos.
“The costs of all these bureaucratic “Furthermore, our Association
”
formalities often are quite above the participates in a series of activities
value of each order and its duties and as and actions that have been decided by

small as the order this cost is unjustiied,” the Municipal Authority for resolving
he said.long-term problems that concern He said since last year the Association,

Another obstacle which makes the passengers and crews of the cruisers, as which was founded in 1975 and currently
job of Greek ship supplier dificult is the well as demonstrating the capabilities represents 120 ship supply businesses,

lack of bank support.of Piraeus.” uhad launched a joint effort with the