Minister Says Hellinikon Project Moving Ahead ‘One Step at a Time’

The Hellinikon plan.

Development of the delayed multi-million-euro Hellinikon project is moving ahead “one step at a time”, Deputy Economy Minister Stergios Pitsiorlas said recently.

Deputy Economy Minister Stergios Pitsiorlas.

Speaking to weekly Realnews, Pitsiorlas said procedures for both Hellinikon and the Skouries mining project were proceeding, as were actions to revive the shipbuilding industry.

Pitsiorlas underlined that the government was in the process of trying to dismantle age-old beliefs and prejudices on the part of both the public and private sectors and foster a wider consensus.

“We must all take a step forward and everything will move ahead as planned. We have a huge project to complete … in a way that will change the image of Greece around the world. We promote investment, respect rules and procedures, and on this basis of mutual respect, public and private sectors can work together harmoniously and productively,” Pitsiolras said with regard to the Hellinikon investment that is expected to create some 70,000 jobs. As for the mining investment in northern Greece, the minister said the government was seeking a final resolution of the issue.

The Skouries mine.

At the same time, Pitsiorlas, who previously headed Greece’s privatization agency (TAIPED), said that Greece’s global reputation was improving.

Speaking at a forum in Patras on Sunday, organized by the Economic Chamber of Northwest Peloponnese & Western Greece, Pitsiorlas said the perception of “Greece and its private economy has never before been more favorable” citing Bank of Greece data of record foreign direct investments in 2016 and 2017.