“We have committed that from the fire season of 2025, important parts of the AEGIS program will begin to be delivered, let alone such vehicles that are extremely necessary for the Fire Department“, emphasized the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, at the signing ceremony of three contracts for the supply of 35 vehicles between the Ministry, TAIPED and the contractor companies.

In particular, the three contracts, amounting to 13 million euros, concern the supply of 7 tankers and 28 water-borne firefighting vehicles.

“By receiving these modern vehicles as a Fire Department we will be able to become more effective for society” emphasized the Chief of the Fire Department, Lieutenant General Theodoros Vayas, after the event.

The Managing Director of TAIPED, Panagiotis Stamboulidis, speaking about the contract for the supply of Fire Brigade vehicles, stated that “it is a model for the way public tenders should be carried out”. In addition, the following attended and were installed at the ceremony: Petros Tagalakis, the president and CEO of TEMAX SA, the General Manager of AIGLON SA, Giorgos Agrafiotis, and the representative of Pavlos Ioannis Kontellis SA, Ioannis Kontellis.

Here are the full statements:

Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias: Thank you very much, Sir, Chief, Mr. Deputy Chief, Mr. Chief of Staff, Mr. Generals, Mr. Appointed Advisor of TAIPED. Thank you very much for the excellent cooperation with the executives of the staff structures and the service factors of the Ministry and the Fire Brigade. I want to thank both the market and the contractors for the excellent cooperation. Last summer, which got off to a rough start, I thought it was our duty to complete all tenders and procurement of fire engines in the Fire Department. The Fire Brigade has gone through very difficult times, in times of difficult, restrictive budget policies and an opportunity is given, through a very very large supply from “AEGIS”, to acquire 1,100 fire engines of all types.

The staff and operational factors of the Fire Department who chose the types of vehicles and we proceeded, I think in record time Mr. Stampoulidis, the tender procedures for all tenders, for all types of vehicles. So, hopefully in the next period of time we will be back here to sign some final agreements.

We have committed that from the fire season of 2025, important parts of the AEGIS program will begin to be delivered, let alone such vehicles that are extremely necessary for the Fire Department. Ladies and Gentlemen, if you follow the Greek men and women, the firemen and firewomen for a day, to see what is required operationally in extinguishing urban or forest fires and therefore, how important and crucial it is for us, the use of fire engines, you will understand how much these contests are important. I am glad that the next one has also been successful, so I understand that the agreements are being signed with the contractors Mr. Stampoulidis and also the third and biggest one, in order to complete and be able to have a road map of when we will receive the vehicles for the Fire Department. A dowry for the Fire Service, today, but obviously, and for the firefighters and officers of tomorrow. Congratulations to everybody.

CEO of TAIPED, Panagiotis Stamboulidis: The tender for the supply of 35 Civil Protection vehicles is a model for the way in which public tenders should be carried out. I thank the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, as with its serious and considered assistance and in cooperation with the market, it was instrumental in the implementation of this tender in open and transparent terms, without any exclusion. The Strategic Contracts Unit has completed all tenders for the supply of vehicles for the Fire Service and the last two contracts are expected to be signed very soon. During the summer, very important procedures will mature, so that by December all the contracts related to the tenders conducted by TAIPED for the AEGIS Program will have been signed.

We must note that the market so far has risen to the occasion, as suppliers know that they will gain access to important European financing tools. The AEGIS program is a great national opportunity to utilize European resources and to properly equip our Fire Brigade. TAIPED, with the help of the excellent executives of the House, is helping in this effort and will continue to do so with a sense of responsibility responding to the trust of the state.

Representative of PAVLOS I. KONTELLIS SA, Ioannis Kontellis: On behalf of PAULOS I. KONTELLIS SA, which is a company that has already been in the vehicle trade in Greece for 105 years. We want to say a big thank you for the very good cooperation, the perfect tender process and for the trust you once again give us and we hope to be okay again. Thank you very much and good luck and good luck to everyone.

Syngelidis Group General Manager, George Agrafiotis: With great pleasure and honor representing the Syngelidis Group and AIGLON, I would like to thank the Minister, the TAIPED and the staff of the Ministry and the agencies and delegates, who dealt with the specific tender, which I would like to I emphasize that it ended without a problem and that is very important for both you and the companies. All I would like to say and add is that we will take care and do everything so that the procurement is completed in the shortest possible time, so that these vehicles can join the Fire Service, as soon as possible and earlier. Thank you very much for this contest and for and procedures. Be well.

President and CEO of TEMAX SA, Petros Tagalakis: Mr. Minister, Mr. Deputy Minister, Mr. Chief, Mr. Authorized Advisor of TAIPED, fellow firefighters. This year we are celebrating 59 years as a fire engine manufacturing company here in Greece and 90 years of presence in the bodybuilding industry. With these cars, which we will sign today, we are completing, we are approaching 1,900 fire engines. So, it is a great pleasure and honor that we will be able to build these cars with Greek design, Greek construction. The reliability of our construction is already known in the Fire Department, where our cars have been used for over 30 years without problems. And so, with this process, the Fire Brigade is supported with reliable cars and the Greek industry with its occupation and its specialization in the type being procured. So, I wish you all the best, have a safe trip and I would like to say needless, but that probably won’t apply unfortunately. Thank you very much.