Development ministry approves package of projects, worth 41 million euros

Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas on Tuesday signed a ministerial decision earmarking 8.7 million euros in financial support to a shipyard industrial area in Astakos, western Greece.

Under the plan, the money will be used to transform the area into a modern transit centre. The Astakos project, budgetted at 126.5 million euros (of which 73.3 million euros will come from national funds) envisages the creation of a large cargo shipping centre, capable of harbouring large cargo vessels, fully equipped with the necessary freight machinery and warehouse facilities. The project will be completed in 2005.

Sioufas also signed a series of ministerial decisions aimed to offer financial support to environmental protection projects in industrial areas around the country. The programme is budgetted at 21.84 million euros.

The government also offered around 10.5 million euros for the construction of infrastructure projects in remote Greek islands. Under the plan, a fishery vessels' shelter will be built in the island of Fourni, Ikaria, budgetted at 6.0 million euros.