The Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis referred to the significant growth prospects for Crete through major infrastructure projects and new investments, speaking at the Greece Talks, Crete Forward.

As he stressed, the total number of projects being implemented on the island reaches approximately 4.5 billion euros, creating the conditions for further strengthening the economy, tourism and the overall development dynamics of the region.

“Infrastructure plays a big role in this. The total projects on the island are 4.5 billion euros,” he said, referring to the North Road Axis of Crete (BOAK), the Attica-Crete electricity interconnection and the new international airport in Kastelli Pediodos.

The Minister made a special reference to the next day of the current Nikos Kazantzakis Airport. The land, about 2,000 acres, in the area of Nea Alikarnassos could become, he said, “an important new development pole for Crete.”

“The old airport can become a new “little Greek”,” he said, noting that its development can create an integrated development proposal for the region.

“Elliniko is a model. We should not imitate it in its time. We should imitate it in the quality of what we will see at the end,”

According to the minister, the first studies have already been carried out by TAIPED, while the urban planning and the preparation of the business plan will proceed in the next period.

At the same time, he said, the Ministry of Finance and the Hyperfund will play an important role in the process, while a dialogue with the local government and the business community of Crete will take place.

Mr. Pierrakakis during the discussion “Tourism, growth and the new great opportunity” in the presence of Fokion Karavia – Chief Executive Officer, Eurobank Bank SA and Michalis Lebidakis – CEO, Plastics of Crete, highlighted the importance of the island for the Greek economy, stressing that it is one of the main pillars of the country’s development.

As he said, Crete contributes about 5% to Greece’s GDP, while in the tourism sector its participation reaches about 20%.

“In Crete, accommodation revenues have increased tremendously from 2019 to date. It was about 1.4 billion euros and now we are at 2.4 billion euros,” he said.

Referring to this year’s tourist season, the minister appeared optimistic, noting however that international developments are creating an environment of uncertainty.

“I am optimistic, I think it will be a good tourist year,” he said, noting that the course of tourism is affected by both the duration and depth of the international crises.

“The tourism proposal must change over the year and not just for the summer, but for the 12-month tourism model,” he noted.

The minister also referred to the country’s general economic situation, stressing that Greece is currently in a better fiscal position than in the past.

“We are within our fiscal targets and this is what characterises us at European level,” he said, noting that the country is recording primary surpluses and that public debt is on a downward trend.

He also said that the country has strengthened its footprint in European institutions, which is reflected in international ratings of the economy.

The Greece Talks conference, Crete Forward: Experience, Culture & Connection , is being held at the Grecotel Amirandes with the presence of politicians, top tourism executives and businessmen, as well as representatives of local government. Organized by the travel site Travel.gr, in collaboration with the newspaper Proto Thema, it aims to create the right conditions for a constructive discussion between representatives of the state, the business community, tourism and culture, in a meaningful dialogue for the future of the island.