The development prospects of Aetolia-Acarnania as well as the upgrade of the port infrastructure in the region were highlighted by the Minister of Shipping, Vasilis Kikilias, during his visit to Nafpaktos, Mesolonghi, and Astakos.
As part of the government officials’ tours across the country, and accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Labor, Kostas Karagounis, and the New Democracy Member of Parliament for Aetolia-Acarnania, Thanasis Papathanasis, Vasilis Kikilias held a meeting with the Mayor of Nafpaktos, Vasileios Gizas, the President of the Port Fund, Spyridon Tselios, as well as representatives of local organizations, to discuss the progress of port projects and the development prospects for Nafpaktos.
Vasilis Kikilias emphasized that “the procedures are underway, and we are striving to expedite them so that all planned projects can move forward. Both the studies and the projects must move forward. I discussed with my colleagues and the mayor the prospects for a major port project here in Nafpaktos. “I am pleased to see that the tourism offering of a very important region—one of immense historical value—is being upgraded, as it attracts more and more visitors.”
He placed particular emphasis on the importance of the maritime economy for the country’s development, stressing that “we would like to envision a future where all maritime professions—that is, professions in the shipping industry—are connected, as they provide economic, professional, and social recognition to young people and are once again discussed within Greek families. We would like to see the commercial sector—which is directly intertwined with our ports and coastal regions—gain new strength. We would like to see energy and shipbuilding, yachting and marinas, and the tourism industry linked with maritime professions and shipping. All of this could serve as a massive driver of growth for the next 25 years.”
The tour continued to Messolonghi, where Vasilis Kikilias met with the Deputy Regional Governor, Athanasios Mavrommatis, the Mayor, Spyridon Diamantopoulos, and the President of the Port Fund, Nektaria Aletra. During the meeting they discussed ways to implement targeted and efficient measures for the region’s port infrastructure, with the aim of further developing it.
In this context, the minister stated that “we will support the efforts being made. We will proceed not with an overly ambitious approach or grandiose projects, but with projects that are suited to the region and that can provide added value and truly help the people of Messolonghi. I believe in this region; it is a beautiful area with the potential to develop even further. We will develop it, however, with respect for local urban planning guidelines, its unique beauty, its culture, and its history, so that we can create things that fit its character, and I am certain that Greeks, visitors to our country, and the whole world will embrace them.”
The tour continued in Astakos, where Vasilis Kikilias, accompanied by the Deputy Regional Governor, Athanasios Mavrommatis, the Mayor of Xiromero, Ioannis Triantafyllakis, and the President of the Municipal Port Fund, Alexis Giotis, visited the Maritime Industrial Area (NAVIPE) in Platygiali, one of the country’s most important deep-water ports.
He also pointed out that “this is an investment with tremendous potential. That is why we are all working together—the local community, the relevant agencies, and the ministries—to determine the best possible way for this investment to move forward. We would like to involve the local community—the people who live in the area—in any business plans. And, in any case, we want this investment to provide added value, creating well-paid jobs and fostering development in the region, while respecting the area—which is very beautiful and has great potential for growth in both tourism and yachting, high-end tourism and the services that accompany them.”
On the sidelines of his visits, the minister met with the Port Commander of Messolonghi, Lieutenant Commander Kyriaki Skandali of the Coast Guard, the Commander of the 1st Port Department of Nafpaktos, Lieutenant Commander Maria Thomopoulou of the Coast Guard, and the Commander of the 2nd Port Authority of Platygialio-Astakos, Lieutenant Vasiliki Polyzou of the Coast Guard, with whom he discussed issues concerning the activities and the operations of the region’s Port Authorities.
The Minister’s tour of Aetolia-Acarnania concluded with his speech in Agrinio, as part of the New Democracy Political Academy for Executive Training.
