I am truly delighted with today's ceremony, which marks the start of the implementation of yet another announcement by the President of the Republic for the construction of a mega development project with multiple benefits for the trade sectors, shipping, tourism, tourism, transport and economy for both the City and District of Larnaca and Cyprus in general.
Today we officially hand over the Port and Marina of Larnaca to the investor and this way the largest development project in the country at the moment is being implemented, as the investment will exceed 1.2 billion euros.
This is an investment, the process of which has gone through complications and until recently many people expressed their doubts as to whether the Government would carry out this mega project. Today, this project is becoming a reality, thanks to the determination and the political will of the President of the Republic, who placed this investment among his priorities.
I would like to thank my predecessors, the Ministers of Transport, Communications and Works, Marios Dimitriades and Vasiliki Anastasiadou, who worked methodically to ensure that the procedures of tendering, negotiation and everything that was required to reach the desired result were successful.
I also thank the members of the negotiating committee, the Directors General of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, Stavros Michael, of the Ministry of Finance, George Pantelis, and of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, Andreas Zacharias, as well as the Legal Service, the Attorney General and the Assistant Attorney General, and especially Rena Papaeti and her team.
At the same time, I would be remiss if I did not express my sincere thanks to the Cyprus Ports Authority and its Chairman, my friend Antonis Stylianou, who supported the whole project with all available means and expertise.
However, I would like to extend my warm congratulations and thanks to the Ports Development Team of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works. Your endless hours of work, your impeccable cooperation with all stakeholders and your willingness to bring this huge project to life has brought us to today.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Taking this opportunity, I must congratulate and thank the Director General of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, Stavros Michael. My friend Stavros, the hard and painstaking work that you and your team have accomplished has led to today's result. You embraced the effort from the very first moment and with your methodicalness and perseverance, we managed to overcome all the obstacles that have arisen over the years. Knowing how important it is to meet schedules in projects of this magnitude, you supervised the procedures until midnight on March 31 and provided solutions, together with the Port Development Team, so that we kept our commitment and delivered the project to the investor without any delay and according to schedule.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is just a small sample of the conscientiousness and diligence that have characterized Stavros throughout his years of ethical service in whatever position in the Public Service he has been called upon to work. It is for all these characteristics that his retirement next June will leave an unfillable void in the Ministry of Transport.
Friend Stavros, for me personally, it has been a great honour to have been able to work with you and I declare myself proud because we had a vision and we managed to implement many of its aspects, focusing on the good interests and the improvement of the quality of life of our fellow citizens. Those of us who have worked with you and have seen the astuteness with which you handle situations, as well as your selflessness, can assure you that you are an example to be emulated.
With the wish that you have a peaceful retirement and enjoy beautiful moments with your beloved family, I would like to invite His Excellency the President of the Republic to present on behalf of the State a commemorative plaque, as a minimum recognition of the work you have done over the years.
(MCI)
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