Its Strategic Contracts Unit (Project Preparation Facility – PPF). TAIPEDa member company of the Superfund, announced that today, Monday, December 23, the signing of the contract for the critical project of restoring the operational levels took place Port of Volos after the “Daniel” and “Elias” bad weather, between the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Christos Stylianidis and the Vice President of the Board of Directors. of the Contracting company, “TEKAL”, Argyros Psaltakou.

Present at the signing were the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Christos Staikouras, the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Christos Triandopoulos, the Deputy Minister of Education, Religion and Sports, Zetta Makri, the Secretary General of Shipping and Ports, Evangelos Kyriazopoulos, the CEO of TAIPED, Dimitris Politis, the Authorized Advisor of TAIPED, Panagiotis Stamboulidis, the Deputy Managing Director of the Superfund/Growthfund, Stefanos Giourelis, and executives of the Strategic Contracts Unit (PPF) of the Fund who make up the project team.

The project, contractual value 9.5 million euro (including VAT), includes the study and implementation of the restoration of the functional levels (dredging) of the port basin of the Port of Volos, with the removal of sediments that have accumulated after the extreme weather events “Daniel” and “Elias” in September 2023.

The Strategic Importance Contracts Unit of TAIPED (PPF) matured and carried out the tender process for the project in question, in the name and on behalf of the Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy. The Commissioning and Leading Authority was designated the Directorate of Port Infrastructures of the General Secretariat of Shipping and Ports of the Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy and the Managing Service was the Special Public Works Service (ΕΤΕΝΕΝΕΤΕΝΕ) of Thessaly of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

The project is financed by the Sectoral Development Program of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, following its inclusion in the Public Investment Program by decision of the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis.

The Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Christos Stylianidissaid about it: “The signing of the contract for the restoration of the functional levels of the port of Volos after the catastrophic bad weather “Daniel” and “Elias”, is a decisive step for the restoration of normality in the wider region. With this project, with a total budget of 9.5 million euros, we are prioritizing the security, functionality and economic activity of the port, which is a key pillar of development for Magnesia and the wider region of Thessaly. The securing of the necessary resources and the close cooperation with the co-competent Ministries of National Economy and Finance as well as Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, underline our commitment to respond immediately and effectively to the needs of the affected areas. The port of Volos, after the completion of the project, will be able to welcome ships safely, ensuring the smooth movement of goods and strengthening the local and national economy. In this way, we effectively respond to the effects of the climate crisis and strengthen the resilience of our infrastructure. Many thanks to all who contributed to the promotion of this vital work. Through planning, collaboration and efficiency, we continue to support local communities that are being tested, ensuring a more sustainable and resilient future for all.”

The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Christos Staikourasstated: “It has been a correct political choice of the government, for years, to have an Interministerial Strategic Investment Committee, which selects projects of strategic importance included in financial instruments, such as the Recovery and Resilience Fund, or not included in these financial instruments, which mature primarily from TAIPED. In this Interministerial Committee, which is always chaired by the respective Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, we have passed several projects of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, which go according to the timetables that the Greek government has set coherently and collectively. One of them is the dredging of the port of Volos. In this collective and coherent work, the Managing Authority is the General Secretariat of Infrastructure of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, as is done, for example, in Alexandroupoli. And the Contracting Company has proven that it delivers timely, quality projects and will do the same until the summer of 2025 in the case of Volos. However, this project is not enough to highlight and develop the port of Volos and the development prospects of the region. The wider utilization of the port and its connection with road and rail axes is required. In the coming weeks, the procedures will be completed in order to “run” the projects related to the restoration of roads and bridges, as well as the railway network, upgraded with higher durability, Volos – Larissa. I would like to thank TAIPED and my fellow Ministers for the excellent cooperation we had so that such important projects for regional development, job creation, and the strengthening of social cohesion could be auctioned in a timely manner.”

The Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Christos Triandopoulosstated: “An important and large restoration project, after the extreme flooding phenomena “Daniel” and “Elias” that hit Magnesia, after the study and tender process by TAIPED, begins with today’s signing of the contract with the contractor of the project. A project that progresses with the cooperation of all the Ministries involved and TAIPED. And I want to thank everyone for their cooperation. With the completion of the project to restore the functional levels of the port of Volos, within the planned schedule, the port and the fish ladder will become fully functional in all their dimensions and activities, contributing significantly to the economic activity and development dynamics of Volos, Magnesia, of Thessaly”.

The Appointed Advisor of TAIPED and Head of the Strategic Importance Contracts Unit (PPF), Panagiotis Stamboulidisstated about the importance of the project: “The signing of the contract worth 9.5 million euro for the rehabilitation of the Port of Volos seals the PPF’s commitment to speed and efficiency in the completion of critical tenders that enhance regional development and are of vital importance to local communities, especially the Prefecture of Magnesia, which was tested last September by extreme weather events . In cooperation with the Ministry of Shipping, we transparently and consistently completed all the necessary procedures, in order for one of the most important ports of mainland Greece to become fully operational again, supporting the development prospects of Thessaly”.

The Deputy CEO of the Superfund/Growthfund, Stefanos Iourelisstated: “The successful cooperation between the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, the PPF and the relevant Ministries is a model for the implementation of projects of strategic importance. The port of Volos, after the completion of the project, will emerge as a strong development hub, supporting the local economy and responding to the challenges of the climate crisis. The PPF unit has now become a multi-tool for speeding up critical public works. We wish good success in the implementation of the project, which will leave a substantial and lasting imprint on the country’s infrastructure and development.”