The Union of Greek Shipowners once again immediately responded to the call of the homeland to contribute to dealing with emergency situations, such as last year’s disasters in Thessaly and Central Greece.
Faithful to the commitment of “Shipping and Society always together”, the Greek shipping industry, following the invitation of the Prime Minister, collected over 50 million euros in less than 10 days, for the restoration of the affected areas.
The Hellenic Shipowners’ Association placed particular emphasis on the restoration of school complexes throughout the region and for this purpose a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Hellenic Shipowners’ Association, the Public Company “Building Infrastructure SA” and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, for the financing of projects rehabilitation of school units in Thessaly and Central Greece, areas affected by the unprecedented floods.
On Tuesday, April 23, an event of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport was held in Mouzaki, for the presentation of the plan for the restoration of damages from the extreme weather phenomena “Daniel” and “Elias”, in the regions of Thessaly and Central Greece. The President of the Hellenic Shipowners Association also attended and spoke at the event, Melina Travlou.
Both the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Staikourasas well as the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakisin whose presence the event took place, thanked the Union for the immediate response to the national effort to restore the damages, with its contribution exceeding 50,000,000 euros.
The first project that the Union of Greek Shipowners will finance is the restoration and upgrading of all the school units that were affected.
“Even better infrastructure and services”
During her greeting, the President of the EEE stated, among other things, that “our aim as the Greek fleet is to contribute not only to the return to normality, but – where this is possible – to offer even better infrastructure and services. We are and will be close to you.”
In particular, in her speech Mrs. Travlou emphasized: “It is a great honor and emotion to be here today, near you. In a historic place, in a place that is a strong supplier of our national economy, in a place of pride, that was tested like never before.
From the first moment the disaster occurred, the Greek fleet was mobilized, and we also participated in the pan-Hellenic wave of solidarity. In cooperation with the coordinating center of civil protection of Larissa, we offered the equipment and first aid items that were requested of us and were necessary in those first hours and days of the crisis.
At the same time, we were looking for the best possible way to contribute with integrated and effective actions in dealing with the unprecedented disaster that had taken place. The State itself caught up with us. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis invited us to contribute to the restoration of the damages, according to a national plan. Our response was immediate and dynamic, once again, to the call of our homeland. Within 10 days, as the Greek Shipowners’ Association, we collected more than 50 million euros, true to our firm commitment “Shipping & Society always together”.
In fact, the first project we sought to finance was the restoration of the damages in all the affected schools. However, we will not just stop at the repair, but we will also proceed with energy upgrading, reconstruction of the surrounding area, as well as modernization of the electromechanical facilities, where necessary.
I want to thank both Mr. Staikouras and “Building Infrastructure” for the perfect cooperation, which was and is a catalyst for the timely and immediate implementation of all the necessary procedures, studies, designs, in order to realize our common goal: to for our students to return to their desks and for their schools to be more functional, more modern, better.
Our desire is to cover three important pillars that have always been the focus of our contribution to Greek society: Education, Health and Culture. Thus, in cooperation with the Government and the Ministries of Health and Culture, we are in the final stretch for the rest of the projects we will undertake. Our aim as the Greek shipping industry is to contribute not only to the return to normality, but – where possible – to offer even better infrastructure and services.
We are and will be close to you. With the wish that the common good unites us and not the trial of crises, like the one you experienced and which I wish from the bottom of my heart that no human being ever and anywhere will experience again”.
After the end of the event, the President of the Union of Greek Shipowners, Melina Travlou, visited the Special Kindergarten and Special Primary School of Trikala, as well as the 1st Primary School of Palamas.
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