untitled design

K. Ah. Karamanlis: We are building the infrastructure to make Greece an energy hub

The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Costas Karamanlis, referred to the infrastructure projects, which change the productive model of the country and upgrade it to an energy hub at a critical juncture, at the 5th Infrastructure and Transport Conference, organized by the news websites yforespress.com and .gr.

He also stressed that the construction industry is again in a period of prosperity, stating that – according to the data of listed companies – the backlog of large construction groups has reached 9.38 billion euros. He stressed that this means growth prospects and job creation.

In more detail, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport referred in particular to investments in the railway, with the largest package of railway projects ever undertaken in the country, amounting to almost five billion euros.

He assessed that “the railway has the potential to be the modern locomotive of the new economic model we want for our country” and stressed that “Greece is at the center of our strategy to become a hub of infrastructure and combined transport and an energy hub of Southeastern Europe.” .

The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport pointed out that “for the first time we are doing the obvious, which for so many years was unthinkable. We connect all our major ports with the road and rail network”.

He explained that the goal is: “To be able to finally develop high quality logistics services in our country. To enter dynamically in the field of combined transport. To upgrade the role of our ports. To offer new freight corridors in the supply chain, utilizing “Our geographical position. An entire industry, that is, that our country has not yet exploited, despite the fact that its geopolitical and geographical position is ideal.”

He also stressed that “this is how we set the conditions for the upgrading of our country’s role in the energy sector. Because with these projects, Greece, taking advantage of the current circumstances and the new geopolitical and energy balances that are being created, has the opportunity to also play a leading role in this field, as an energy hub of the wider region “.

The construction industry again in a period of prosperity and expansion

To demonstrate what all this means in practice for the construction industry, Mr. Karamanlis spoke in numbers:

At the moment, the backlog of large construction groups listed on the Athens Stock Exchange has reached 9.38 billion euros. And according to forecasts, based on the tenders that are in the final stage, it is expected to reach 15 billion euros by 2023.

“In other words, we are talking about record levels, both for the industry as a whole and for each group or company individually,” said the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, adding that “these projects, these numbers, certify that the industry is finally back. in a period of flourishing and expansion “.

He also stressed that these real data mean stability, security, the possibility of long-term planning, that in a difficult period the construction industry now has the potential to transmit its growth impetus to the entire economy and society.

“And of course, these projects mean thousands of new and well-paid new jobs, both for scientific and technical staff,” he added.

Mr. Karamanlis also stressed that “in the effort of national reconstruction, the construction sector has a primary role. And is at the forefront of attracting serious foreign investors.”

He cited as an example the international interest that gathered the tender of Egnatia Odos or more recently the equivalent of Attiki Odos or other large auctions that have been held recently by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

“Never before have we had such interest from big, global players. Never before have we had so many partnerships of strong foreign and domestic manufacturers. Never again have public works tenders been at the center of the global investment map,” Karamanlis said.

He stressed that these investments have a long-term horizon of implementation and return.

“We have laid a solid foundation for the future”

“In other words, we have already laid a solid foundation for the future,” Karamanlis said, noting that infrastructure projects “are not just a matter for construction companies.” This is because, as he pointed out, infrastructure projects stimulate local economies directly, but also set the conditions for long-term regional development.

“We are taking measures in favor of the weak, in favor of the many, in the end for the benefit of all Greeks”

Mr. Karamanlis stressed that the government of New Democracy has proved in the successive external crises of recent years that it “stands on the side of society in practice. Taking measures in favor of the weak, in favor of many, ultimately in favor of all Greeks.”

He recalled the 43 billion euro support measures during the pandemic period and stressed that the government, even now with the international energy crisis, is supporting society as a whole and the individual sectors of the economy.

Mr. Karamanlis mentioned, for example, the forecasts of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport for the revisions in the prices of materials and the measures taken specifically for the construction sector, in order to ensure that the construction activity will continue smoothly.

“Projects that the citizens have been waiting for for so many years are finally becoming a reality.”

Mr. Karamanlis reminded that at last year’s conference he had mentioned that 2021 will be the year of infrastructure and indeed it was.

“Because we managed to auction projects worth 8 billion euros. And to contract – which means that they are already being implemented – projects worth 3.2 billion euros,” he stressed.

“Projects that the citizens have been waiting for for so many years are finally becoming a reality”, added Mr. Karamanlis, stating:

* The Northern Section of the E65

* Aktio-Amvrakia

* The long-suffering Patras-Pyrgos

* The Northern Road Axis of Crete

* Line 4 of the Athens Metro

* The extension of Line 3 to Piraeus

* The Thessaloniki Metro

* The new Regional also of Thessaloniki, the so-called Flyover.

* The large program of flood protection projects and water resources management amounting to 1.5 billion euros

* The extension of Kymi Avenue

* The undergrounding of Ilioupolis

* The extensions to Lavrio and Rafina

* The Bralos- ‘Amfissa

* The bypass of Chalkida and Psachna

* The ring road of Alexandroupolis.

“And all these are not theories and exhibitions of ideas. They are tangible projects that are already being implemented or matured, with a plan and persistence”, Mr. Karamanlis underlined.

Finally, during the discussion with the institutions that followed, the issues of the Price Observatory and the energy crisis were raised. The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport listened to the concerns of the institutions and stressed that all parties and all institutions should discuss real solutions to the problems.

Source: AMPE

Source: Capital

You may also like

Get the latest

Stay Informed: Get the Latest Updates and Insights

 

Most popular