Crete to promote blue economy at conference

is keen to promote the “Blue Economy” and how it can strengthen the regional economy, in areas related to coastal tourism, shipping, marine energy, maritime surveillance, shipping and cruises. George Alexakis also stressed the need to prioritize issues in relation to needs and environmental challenges in Crete, increase cooperation and the business potential in related fields through research and innovation at sea in collaboration with research centres of the island, but mainly, through strong links of communication and synergies in the public sector and private business sector. In a separate issue, the Greek island of Crete has become part of a growing dispute between Athens and Turkey. Last November, Ankara and the UN-backed government in Tripoli, Libya, signed an agreement which demarcated new maritime boundaries between the two countries. Ankara claims its continental shelf in the Mediterranean Sea passes close to Crete to the middle of the Sea, part of an area claimed by Greece. The issue is part of a growing regional conflict driven by Ankara’s strategy of acquiring a share of oil and gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Copyright (C) PortSEurope. All Rights Reserved. 2020.