The role of the Recovery Fund and the large investments that enhance the international image of Greece, were at the center of the discussion during the 2nd day of the 5th Conference on Infrastructure & Transport – ITC 2022, organized by the news websites ypodomes.com and metaforespress.gr.
The special session was attended by Nikos Mantzoufas, Recovery Fund Commander, Dimitris Papagiannidis, Secretary of Union Resources of the Ministry of Rural Development, Panagiotis Stampoulidis, Executive Advisor and Executive Member of HRDH, Costangy Graffi Director & Associates SA-Consulting Engineers “.
N. Mantzoufas: Unprecedented resources for Greece for the coming years
The commander of the Recovery Fund, Nikos Mantzoufas, spoke about unprecedented funds with which our country will find itself in the coming years. Specifically, he said: “Greece in the coming years will find itself with unprecedented resources. There is this challenge and I believe we will respond positively but it needs vigilance.”
Mr. Mantzoufas stressed that in order for the country to successfully absorb the funds, it needs better organization of the State, more efficient auctions and contracting of projects. Finally, he said that the market must stand up to the circumstances.
D. Papagiannidis: The main “player” in the infrastructure is the ministry
According to Dimitris Papagiannidis, Secretary of Union Resources of the Ministry of Rural Development, the Ministry of Rural Development is evolving into a key “player” of infrastructure.
As he said, the ministry will finance 21 major projects, of which 7 will be implemented through PPPs with a total budget of 1.7 billion euros.
According to Mr. Papagiannidis, the above are a record number for the agricultural sector in terms of infrastructure, while as he stressed, “for the first time we will enter the field of land improvement projects, either with dams or utilization networks, with new technologies , which will be implemented through PPP at a depth of 25 years “.
At the same time, he revealed that the Ministry of Rural Development will enter the market with a huge capex, assisted by independent engineers, for projects that already have final studies and environmental impact studies.
P. Stampoulidis: National implementation of the Strategic Significance Projects
The successful outcome of the first major challenge of the new Strategic Significance Project (PPF) Unit was mentioned by the authorized advisor of HRDH, Panagiotis Stampoulidis, which concerns the announcement and contracting, in just two and a half months, of almost 50 large-scale projects. for the cleanliness and forest protection of large national parks.
“The HRDH has confirmed that it is for the difficult. It has completed the most difficult privatizations for the benefit of the citizens and now, it is called to use the unique know-how of our executives in the maturation of projects owned by the Greek State. Thus, “The Strategic Project Maturity Unit (PPF) was set up to essentially assist the state in implementing projects that will improve the quality of life and provide further development, with funding from the Recovery Fund,” he said, noting that overall the projects which will mature the PPF correspond to 5.2 billion euros.
“It is important for us that we operate under a milestone framework. This is the building block of the Recovery Fund’s success. The way we operate ensures that what we undertake will be done on time and with secured funding,” he said. Stamboulidis, clarifying, regarding the PPF, that it does not replace the public authorities, but supports them in an auxiliary way in the design, implementation and monitoring of the projects.
He cited as an example some symbolic projects of the Unit, such as the upgrade of the Kalatrava shelter and the renovation of the courtyard of OAKA, the new industrial parks, the upgrade of the country’s Health infrastructure, but also the bicycle road, with a total length of 18 km, which will complete the major renovation that is taking place on the coastal front of Attica. “We will do everything for the projects to be implemented despite the difficulties because for us this is a national effort,” he said in closing.
C. Graffi: Global specialization, local application
Costanzo Graffi, Strategy and Business Development Director of AECOM, stressed the importance of ESG and social responsibility actions in the construction sector as well.
“For companies like ours,” said C. Graffi, “it’s important to prioritize projects at ESG, we have a moral obligation to employees and societies. Our company employs 50,000 people worldwide, and we have experience from all of them.” which we transfer to our next projects “.
C. Graffi stressed that the current situation for infrastructure and transport is favorable as large investments are made in the industry, with an emphasis on “green projects”.
“Global specialization, local application” is the key to success, said C. Graffi, who stressed that in the projects undertaken by his company, he takes care of the needs of the local market and establishes groups of employees on the spot.
“In many European countries it is difficult to find staff,” Graffi acknowledged, noting that his own company often “transports” workers from one state to another to fill gaps.
B. Sfiroeras: The projects that will be done on the axis of the green transition must be decisive
The development director of “Samaras & Associates SA-Consulting Engineers”, Vlasis Sfiroeras, began his position by talking about a great challenge that the country has. To be able to absorb funds that can reach up to 200 billion euros by 2030 through the Recovery Fund with the participation of private funds and banking through leverage. He stressed that it is a big challenge as Greece was the last country in Europe to absorb funds.
Regarding the axis of the green transition, Mr. Sfiroeras said that “all the projects that will be done in this area must be decisive so that in the next decade we can say as a country that we have made progress in this area.”
The discussion was moderated by the journalist of APE-MPE Elias Palialexis.
Source: AMPE
Source: Capital
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