The series of high-level meetings was continued by the Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, during the second day of his visit to Washington.
The Minister met with high-ranking US government officials and members of Congress, starting with US Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy. Mr. Kikilias had an excellent meeting with the US Minister, underlining that Mr. Duffy is an official guest of the Greek government in Greece. The two Ministers agreed to continue discussions on bilateral cooperation in the shipbuilding sector.
Subsequently, Mr. Kikilias met with Thomas Lersten, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Development, Energy, and the Environment and Acting Director of the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at the State Department. The focus was on bilateral cooperation with the US in the shipping sector and the strengthening of the exchange of know-how and synergies in an industry where Greek-owned shipping is booming. The extremely strong and constantly expanding US-Greece partnership was underlined.
The Minister then met with a high-level delegation led by the Head of the Investment Department of the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Conor Coleman. Mr. Kikilias was accompanied by the President and CEO of ONEX Elefsina Shipyards, P. Xenokostas. The Minister emphasized that US DFC has made a significant investment in Elefsina and that this strategic partnership opens up even greater prospects for the future. The role of Greece as a reliable partner for American investments was reaffirmed, while the participants committed to continuing the discussions.
This was followed by a meeting with an important friend of Greece, Congressman Gus Bilirakis, with whom they exchanged views on deepening relations with the US in the maritime and shipbuilding sector. Mr. Kikilias thanked him for his consistent and long-standing support on all issues concerning our country, as well as for the initiatives he consistently leads, within the framework of the House of Representatives in favor of Greece.
Equally significant was the meeting with Mr. Jerry Hendrix, Commander (retd.) and Head of the US Office of Management and Budget Shipbuilding Policy, at the White House. An in-depth discussion took place on the possibilities for cooperation in the maritime and shipbuilding sectors, as well as on the prospects for strengthening cooperation in the immediate future.
The Minister met with another Congressman of Greek origin, Jimmy Patronis, whom he congratulated for his long-standing support and initiatives in favor of Greece.
During his stay in Washington, Mr. Kikilias also met with Kimberly Guilfoyle, who was confirmed by the US Senate as the new United States Ambassador to Greece. The Minister congratulated her on assuming her duties and, in a related post, underlined that he looks forward to further strengthening Greece-US cooperation in the maritime sector, a strategic sector where both countries have much to contribute.
