Our CEO’s interview, published in International Transport Journal (ITJ), Issue 39-40, 2017
A conversation with Pavlos Poutos takes you straight to the pulse of the Greek transport industry. Marinair’s CEO has an extensive network – and knows how to plan in advance.
How happy are you with how things are going, Mr Poutos?
We’re developing very well at Marinair, despite the crisis, and we’ve recently taken good steps forward as an organisation. Marinair is prepared to win what it deserves, as one element of efforts to improve the business environment, and to make the best of the opportunities that will arise for us in the transport industry worldwide as a result of these efforts.
Greece isn’t in the news so much these days, so please tell us about the general (economic) mood in your country.
The Greek economy has already started to exit the period of instability over the past few years, and started to become more attractive and more business-friendly for investment in several industries. The German airport operator Fraport has made big investments in 14 Greek airports, and the Cosco Group continues to invest in the port of Piraeus, aiming to make the gateway a global transhipment hub. It seems to me that everyone involved in the fate of the country has been engaged in positive moves.
Networks create opportunities to connect.
Marinair is active worldwide; you also attended the WCA conference in Singapore this year. How are your offices in Asia evolving?
Yes, we attend the WCA event every year. This year all of our branch offices together – that is Greece, India and Hong Kong – participated in the meeting and introduced Marinair to participants. Networks create opportunities to connect with the right players in the industry and find common points for successful partnerships.
Have any new foci emerged for Marinair?
Marinair Greece is now a new representative of Tala’s services – an aerospace logistics alliance that Marinair will represent in Greece. We took this strategic decision in the light of the fact that we believe that more airlines and charter flights will land at Greek airports in the near future, due to an improving tourist industry in the country. This will simultaneously increase demand for aerospace services in terms of spares and services. At the same time we’ll naturally also continue to invest in and support our key regions, and offer our usual services all around the globe.
Last year (see page 44 of ITJ 39-40/2016) you mentioned your wish to expand elsewhere in Europe. Have you realised this project in the meantime?
The project is in progress and by the end of 2017 we want to be active in the Netherlands.
What have the most critical points been that you had to cope with in this process?
The critical point to making further progress is to find out the precise requirements of the industry are, and then to work hard towards giving the supply chain the solutions it seeks when it uses Marinair.
What are your further plans for Marinair?
We believe that all these plans and the concomitant action that is in progress for Greece and Marinair at the moment will enable us to make better use of Greece’s strong position in the near future. Our aim is to make Marinair a genuine transhipment option for our networks and our partnerships. By further combining our services to offer transportation by sea, air and rail we’ll open up greater opportunities for our customers and add value to their supply chain operations.
– Andreas Haug