The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Costas Ah., Had a working meeting on Wednesday. Karamanlis and the US Ambassador to Athens Jeffrey Payat. The meeting, which took place at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, was attended by the Deputy Minister in charge of Infrastructure, George Karagiannis, the Secretary General of Infrastructure, Maria-Elli Gerardi, the Secretary General of Transport, Giannis Xifaras, while the US Ambassador was accompanied by the Finance Minister. Yuri Arthur.

«We have had a very close and constructive cooperation with the American ambassador all this time, especially to promote and develop our common strategic plan: the development and promotion of Alexandroupolis, but also of the wider region, which is steadily evolving into important geostrategic, economic and energy hub“, Said the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport.

During the meeting, Mr. Karamanlis presented and analyzed to the American official all the actions taken by the ministry, without the others no further development of the port was possible. The actions taken focused on three key areas:

Port projects: A one-year problem was solved – about 30 years – that occupied the port of Alexandroupolis and concerned the properties owned by OSE and managed by GAIAOSE within the port zone. By legislation, in July 2020 it was decided that the management and exploitation of these areas should not be fragmented. Thus, this right passed to the relevant Port Authority, but without affecting the ownership status of OSE.

Road works: “We have contracted the project of the new Ring Road, which will connect mainly the port of Alexandroupolis with the Egnatia Road, but will also relieve the city center from the traffic load.“, Said the minister. A project that is not ready in about two years.

Railway projects: The important railway projects were auctioned, Alexandroupoli-Ormenio and Thessaloniki-Kavala-Toxotes (plain design). The line was upgraded with electric drive and turned into a high speed line (speeds of up to 200 km / h will be developed). The project will strengthen the port’s cross-border rail link with the rest of south-eastern Europe.

For his part, Jeffrey Payat informed Mr. Karamanlis about the intense investment interest that exists from large American business groups for the port of Alexandroupolis.

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