Kavala and Thasos set for new port infrastructure push
“Eastern Macedonia and Thrace is a gateway. It is not the edge of Greece,” Kikilias said, highlighting the region’s advantages in tourism, fishing, energy and transport.
He said the Ministry of Shipping would support local development initiatives and work with other ministries and local authorities to overcome regulatory and infrastructure obstacles.
€2.2 million for Thasos port
A key focus of the visit was the restoration of damage suffered by the port of Thasos during the winter.
Kikilias said the €2.2 million project is expected to be included in the Transport 2021-2027 programme. It is also being promoted as a project of strategic importance in order to speed up the tendering process.
The project file has been prepared in cooperation with the local port authority and the ministry’s services, he said.
More than 2 million travelers
Kikilias placed particular emphasis on safety, noting that more than two million travelers pass through the wider area and Thasos each year.
“Safety is our first priority,” he said, adding that infrastructure development must be carried out in an organised manner while taking into account residents, islanders, travelers and tourists.
In Kavala, Kikilias visited the Central Port Authority and was briefed on its operations and activities.
Six medical evacuations
In Thasos, the minister inspected a new Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessel equipped with medical supplies and used as a floating ambulance.
The vessel, delivered in March, has already carried out six medical evacuations from Thasos to Kavala.
Kikilias praised its commander and crew, stressing that reducing the time needed to transfer critically ill patients from the island’s health centre to a referral hospital can be crucial to their chances of recovery.
Region backs infrastructure projects
Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Regional Governor Christodoulos Topsidis said the region was working with the ministry on future interventions and was prepared to finance projects that would strengthen both development and safety.
The meetings were attended by Kavala lawmakers, regional and municipal officials, representatives of the Kavala Port Authority, the Thasos Port Fund and other local organisations.
Kikilias also visited the Keramoti Port Authority and met with the mayor of Nestos before visiting the Holy Metropolis of Philippi, Neapolis and Thasos, where he met Metropolitan Stefanos.
Focus on jobs and young people
Kikilias linked infrastructure investment with stronger local incomes and better prospects for younger generations.
He said the government’s aim was to support family businesses, self-employed workers, retailers, the primary sector and people working at sea, helping strengthen economic activity and create conditions that would encourage young people to remain in the region.
The minister also pointed to the impact of international geopolitical developments on inflation, prices and the cost of goods, saying support for citizens remained a government priority.
Source:ERT
