Eastern Macedonia and Thrace governor highlights €30 million investment package for İskeçe
Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Regional Governor Christodoulos Topsidis has presented the achievements of his administration's first 912 days in office, highlighting record European Union funding absorption and more than €30 million in infrastructure investments for the regional unit of İskeçe.
Speaking during a progress review in İskeçe on July 22, Topsidis outlined major projects completed or launched over the past two and a half years while presenting development priorities for the remainder of his term.
The governor stated that the region has become Greece’s leading regional authority in the approval and contracting of projects under the European Union's ESPA (Partnership Agreement) funding framework. According to Topsidis, available EU funding has increased by €206.4 million during his administration, while the number of approved projects has risen from 84 to 936.
He said the additional resources are supporting municipalities, businesses, healthcare facilities, educational institutions and innovation initiatives while creating new employment opportunities across the region.
For the regional unit of İskeçe, Topsidis announced that infrastructure investments exceeding €30 million are either underway or in preparation. The projects include road improvements, flood protection works and maintenance of the regional road network.
Among the flagship infrastructure projects are the completion of the Avdira junction, ongoing construction at the Mangana junction, studies for new junctions in Myrodato and Mandra, and €6.1 million in EU funding to upgrade mountain road infrastructure following the completion of the Dimario vertical road axis.
The governor described the €7.5 million flood protection project on the Kosynthos River as one of the administration's most challenging undertakings. Additional funding has also been allocated to strengthen flood defenses along the eastern embankment of the Nestos River.
Other infrastructure initiatives include extensive road maintenance, resurfacing works and the installation of 13,288 modern LED streetlights across the regional road network.
Topsidis also highlighted investments in civil protection, including the completion of the Echinos Fire Station and the establishment of Greece’s first Regional Climate Change Observatory.
In the agricultural sector, he announced a €4 million irrigation rehabilitation project in the Thalassia–Kremasti irrigation district, land consolidation studies covering more than 21,000 stremmas and the creation of Greece’s first Regional Carbon Footprint Office.
Education projects include energy upgrades at several schools across the region, improvements at the Minority Middle School of İskeçe and the introduction of wheelchair-accessible school transport vehicles for students with disabilities.
To support entrepreneurship, nearly €12 million has been allocated to strengthen businesses, innovation projects and energy-efficiency investments. According to the governor, 36 companies in the regional unit of İskeçe will receive support to employ highly qualified young professionals for at least two years, while 20 unemployed residents will establish their own businesses.
In the fields of culture and tourism, the regional administration announced continued support for the archaeological site of Avdira, the digital modernization of the Avdira Museum and the creation of a Diachronic Museum of İskeçe.
Following the presentation, officials signed an agreement updating the study for the establishment of a Tobacco Museum in İskeçe. Topsidis also announced plans for a new sports center in the city.
Responding to questions regarding railway transportation, the governor said responsibility for rail services lies with the central government but confirmed that developments regarding the planned tourist railway route between İskeçe and Drama are expected to be announced in September.
