International Exhibition “DEFEA 2025”: ONEX Group is a pioneer with vision and technological superiority
Athens, May 12, 2025
ONEX Shipyards & Technologies Group’s participation in the international defense and security exhibition DEFEA – Defence Exhibition Athens, which took place at the Athens Metropolitan Expo, from May 6 to 8, was characterized by a dynamic presence and a strong footprint. The large delegation and specialized executives of ONEX Group reserved the best possible welcome for visitors in the impressively designed pavilion area, to present the Group’s innovative services and products, highlighting its technological superiority.
The inauguration of the pavilion took place on Tuesday, May 6, where the Group’s cutting-edge technologies were presented, while everyone who passed by expressed their admiration for the design of the pavilion and the impressive graphics in its spaces. The Minister of Development, Mr. Panagiotis Theodorikakos honored the ONEX Group with his presence, cutting the ribbon of the inauguration together with the President and CEO of ONEX & Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association of Hellenic Shipyards, Mr. Panos Xenokostas.
Subsequently, Wednesday, May 7, was an equally pivotal day for the ONEX Group’s presence at DEFEA, as Mr. Xenokostas presented the Group’s vision at the seminar entitled: “National Ship: It Can Become a Reality! 70% Greek industrial participation – export-oriented production lines”. Panos Xenokostas highlighted the need to establish a modern national shipbuilding body, with the participation of ONEX and Skaramangas Shipyards, capable of strengthening the autonomy and defense independence of Greece. He emphasized that: “We are ready to build a national ship. The time is now and if we miss this opportunity as a country, we will have no excuse”, explaining that ONEX shipyards can build ships that will fully cover the needs of the Navy and will at the same time be export-oriented.
During the seminar, Mr. Panos Xenokostas reminded everyone that ONEX shipyards are a model and a focal point for the defense industry in the Mediterranean as they have extensive know-how and capabilities for the design, construction and support of ships, comparable to those of the corresponding international organizations. With the existing infrastructure, they can serve commercial ships up to 120,000 tons and defense ships up to 150 meters long, while within the next two years, thanks to the extensive upgrade program, the capacity will increase to 200,000 tons. The strategic goal is the transformation of Greece from a simple buyer to an equal partner in the shipbuilding sector, with an emphasis on the development of transnational defense collaborations that will utilize domestic shipbuilding capabilities, allowing the co-development and promotion of Greek ships in international markets.
Memorandum of Cooperation between the Association of Hellenic Shipyards (AHS) and the Association of Hellenic Aerospace, Defense and Security Companies (AHS)
On Thursday, May 8, the two emblematic institutions of Greek industry and defense joined forces. Panos Xenokostas, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the AHS, signed a Cooperation Agreement with Mr. Dimitris Skalaios, President of AHS, which constitutes a roadmap for the close partnership between the Greek shipbuilding and defense sectors. A central element of the cooperation is the commitment of the two entities to explore the possibility of producing national ships with a domestic technological and shipbuilding footprint. Panos Xenokostas stated: “Today’s signing is not a simple cooperation agreement. It is the beginning of a major cultural change and industrial national comeback. The Greek shipbuilding industry, after decades of decline and disintegration, now has the means, knowledge and people to restart with the aim of not only survival, but leadership. The partnership with E.EL.EAA. is not only institutional; it is strategic. Together, we are creating the conditions for a new industrial model, based on domestic added value, technological self-sufficiency and national security of supply. We are designing the future of defense and shipbuilding not with words, but with projects that will be reflected in National ships, in exports, in jobs and in industrial assurance of national sovereignty. But above all, we see our future together through a team approach to creative development, between leading industrial and technological organizations with a common national vision of leadership through excellence”
Officials who honored ONEX
During all three days of ONEX Group’s dynamic presence at DEFEA, top names honored the company with their presence, visiting its stand and talking with its executives, such as: the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Vassilis Palmas, the Minister of Development, Mr. Panagiotis Theodorikakos, the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Mr. Yiannis Kefalogiannis, the Deputy Minister of National Defense, Mr. Athanasios Davakis, the Deputy Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Mr. Stefanos Gikas, the Chief of the General Staff of the National Defense Forces, Mr. Dimitrios Choupis, Ms. Maria Olson, Charge d’Affairs, U.S Embassy in Greece, the Ambassador of Korea, Ju-seong Lim, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan, Timur Sultangozhin, the Secretary General of Shipping and Ports, Evangelos Kyriazopoulos, the President of PASOK, Mr. Nikos Androulakis, the independent SYRIZA State MP, Mr. Evangelos Apostolakis, the Cyclades ND MP, Ms. Katerina Monogyiou, the Ilia PASOK MP, Mr. Michalis Katrinis, Mr. Andrew Poppas, U.S Army Forces Command, the General of the Hellenic Army, Mr. Konstantinos Floros, the Vice Admiral of the Hellenic Navy, Mr. Tryfon Kontizas, the Messrs. Panagiotis Karavas and Frangiskos Martinos from the Navy, the President of the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Nikolaos Bakatselos, Mr. Elias Stamatiades, U.S. Navy Civilian Service, etc.
