The unified development of the port and marina of Larnaca will contribute substantially to the GDP, to attract investments and will lead to the creation of thousands of jobs, estimates the President of the Larnaca Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EVEL), Stavros Stavrou.
In statements to KYPE regarding the situation in Larnaca under the shadow of the pandemic, Mr. Stavrou referred to Larnaca's two largest infrastructure projects, the integrated development of a port and marina and the relocation of oil facilities from the coastal front. He noted regarding the unified development of the port and marina of Larnaca that "This project, which went through a thousand waves, is progressing well and from the transitional stage in which it is now, it is expected that in the first four months of 2022 the management will pass entirely into the hands of the Consortium. This coastal development will drastically change the economic parameters of Larnaca with a substantial contribution to GDP, in attracting investment, while it will provide thousands of jobs and at the same time will greatly improve the image of the coastal front ".
EVEL continued "Assures that it is next to the company Kition Ocean Holdings as well as to the competent government services to provide every possible assistance in order to implement this important investment as smoothly as possible. As a Chamber, we are interested in how this project will give a new impetus to construction, tourism, land development companies, but also to the port industry and the service of trade.
Mr. Stavrou pointed out that "The coronavirus pandemic has greatly affected households, businesses and government budgets. "Most of the private sector companies were under-operating during the pandemic period. We estimate that in 2022 we will still feel the vibrations of the pandemic crisis, but it will be improved compared to the previous two years.".
With regard to the two major infrastructure projects, he said that, "Finally, after decades of delays, despite the reefs and the internal and external obstacles, the large bureaucracy and the occasional crises, we have succeeded".
He also noted that EVEL "Has played a crucial role over time in the implementation of these two projects, with constant concern that they would proceed in a way that would bring long-term, multifaceted and multidimensional benefits to the local economy and society. We have fought collectively to achieve the goals we set from the beginning and today it is now a self-evident fact that Larnaca is the region with the greatest development prospects ".
Regarding the relocation of the oil and gas facilities from Larnaca, he said that "We are one step ahead of the realization of our vision for a new state-of-the-art and sustainable area through the implementation of the new Area Plan. Specifically, the works of all the oil companies have been terminated and their operation is transferred to Vasiliko, while most of the tanks have been demolished, while the last ones will be demolished by the end of the year. ".
Also "The area of the facilities has been declassified by the SEVEZO directive, while a solution has been found to the issue of unloading LPG from the port of Vasilikos and the LPG is expected to be transported by next summer. We expect within the new year to enter into force the new Area Plan of the former Refineries in the area of the Municipalities of Larnaca and Livadia, which will introduce modern methods of active urban planning " He said and noted that "it will be a revitalized area, friendly to the worker, the tourist, and the resident and will create a multi-functional and quality urban environment".
In another question, the President of EVEL said that the two projects "They create huge prospects for attracting investment, but an important criterion for an investor to choose a region is, among other things, its attractiveness, as well as its infrastructure. The new projects that the Municipality of Larnaca has recently completed or will soon complete from the structural funds, including the Multipurpose Center for Creativity and Culture (former Larnaca Club), Kastro Square and the Municipal Market, have contributed to these. ".