Standing at the Piraeus Port terminal, the sea breeze is enveloped in the smell of engine oil, and the rhythm of the giant bridge crane lifting containers is precise and steady. Ten years ago, this was an old port with an annual throughput of 680000 TEUs, ranking 93rd in the world; Ten years later, container throughput soared to 5.6 million TEUs, ranking 25th in the world and becoming the fourth largest container port and second largest cruise homeport in Europe. Numbers don't lie. China COSCO Shipping has been in charge for ten years, with a cumulative investment of over 10 billion yuan. By 2025, its revenue will reach 251 million euros, a year-on-year increase of 8.6%, completely reversing the long-term loss situation. Behind this set of data is a deeper proposition: what can Chinese companies' overseas operations bring to the local area?

From a corner of the Mediterranean to a global hub

The essence of port competition is efficiency competition. After COSCO Shipping took over, the first thing to focus on was hardware. Deepwater channel dredging, dock expansion, and automated bridge cranes have been gradually launched, resulting in a doubling of operational efficiency. But what really widens the gap is digitization. 5G coverage, AI scheduling system, and real-time digital monitoring platform in the entire Hong Kong region - these technologies that were conceptual ten years ago are now embedded in daily operations. From manual scheduling to intelligent collaboration, the dwell time of ships in port has been significantly reduced, and the efficiency of single ship operations has been improved by about 30%.

More importantly, there is a shift in the mode. Bi Port is no longer just a dock for loading and unloading goods, but has extended to a comprehensive hub covering logistics, warehousing, ship repair, and car roll on/roll off. The five major business sectors form a closed loop, and the port radiation extends from Greece to the Balkans and even Central and Eastern Europe. In 2024, the cargo volume of the China Europe Land Sea Express Line transited through the port will grow by more than 15% year on year, and the strategic value of the port as the western fulcrum of the the Belt and Road will continue to release.

Not replacement, but activation

It not only changes the port, but also the relationship between the city and its people, "said the mayor of Piraeus, highlighting the core. COSCO Shipping has created thousands of direct jobs and tens of thousands of indirect employment opportunities, with Greek employees accounting for over 90%. Tax revenue and operating income continue to feed back local finances, coffee shops and logistics companies have grown in deserted neighborhoods, and ports and cities have transformed from "two skins" to a game of chess.

This is precisely the dimension that Chinese companies tend to overlook when going global. Bigong did not simply replace local labor with Chinese teams, but instead made Greeks participants in port development rather than bystanders through management output, technical training, and benefit sharing. The integration of the values of China COSCO Shipping Corporation has strengthened the transparency of corporate governance. The Secretary of the Board of Directors, Sanozides, gave a frank evaluation of this: prudent and responsible, with a high sense of responsibility, providing a guarantee for long-term sustainable development.

The next decade will be smart, green, and open

The blueprint has been laid out. Photovoltaic power supply, shore power facilities, and upgrading of smart ports - green transformation is a hard indicator. Bigang Park started construction in April, integrating sports, leisure, and social activities. The port is extending from an economic hub to a public space in the city. Looking towards the future, with five major business sectors as the foundation, we aim to transform into a comprehensive logistics service provider and build a more radiating global node. This is the ambition of Bi Hong Kong and the next step of China Greece cooperation.

Ten years of ups and downs, as evidenced by data from Hong Kong, good overseas investment is not about conquest, but about symbiosis.

This project is one of the four major sections of Saudi Arabia's 2030 Vision Highway Privatization Plan. Four consortia, $5 billion, to be announced on May 31st.Editor/Cheng Liting