V. Kikilias in Chalkida: “We Are Relocating the Commercial Port, Upgrading the Waterfront and Strengthening the Local Economy”

The relocation of Chalkida’s commercial port and the development of a high-standard marina in the area were identified as key development objectives for Evia by Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, during his visit to Chalkida.

Mr Kikilias held a meeting at the Evia Ports Authority (OLNE) with the Authority’s President, N. Kritsilis, its Chief Executive Officer, Sp. Palaiologos, and members of its Board of Directors. The meeting was attended by New Democracy MPs representing Evia, Symeon Kedikoglou, Athanasios Zempilis and Konstantina Karabatsoli; Evia Deputy Regional Governor Giorgos Kelaitidis; Chalkida Mayor Elena Vaka; and Hellenic Coast Guard officials.

The Minister described the project as one that “will transform the area for the next 50 years,” emphasising that relocating the port while simultaneously upgrading Chalkida’s waterfront would create new jobs, boost tourism and provide a strong stimulus for the local economy.

“Beautiful Evia and the unique city of Chalkida deserve and are entitled to the relocation of the commercial port, alongside the development of a first-class marina in the area,” he stated.

He emphasised that the objective was to ensure that “our children stay here in their homeland, have well-paid jobs and enjoy a better life than we have had.”

Mr Kikilias described the project as a “major national undertaking” and called on all stakeholders to move forward swiftly with the necessary approvals and the master plan. At the same time, he made it clear that there were no funding issues and that the Ministry would support the project’s implementation at every stage.

Mr Symeon Kedikoglou described the initiative as a vision that now has strong prospects of becoming a reality, noting that this was the first time a Minister of Maritime Affairs had visited the Evia Ports Authority.

For his part, Mr Athanasios Zempilis stressed that relocating the port had been a long-standing demand of the local community and would contribute to the development of the entire Chalkida waterfront, giving the city a new tourism and development identity.

Ms Konstantina Karabatsoli noted that the project was of pivotal importance not only for Chalkida but for the whole of Evia, emphasising that it was now “moving towards implementation.”

Following the meeting at the Evia Ports Authority, Mr Kikilias visited the Central Port Authority of Chalkida, where he met with its personnel and received a briefing from the Port Authority Chief, Lieutenant Commander of the Hellenic Coast Guard Ol. Skliri, on matters concerning the port authority’s operations.