17th September 2013
Crete: Nationally first in the European Program
At a special press conference in Heraklion, at the presence of the Minister of Development and Competitiveness Mr. Kostis Hatzidakis were signed, on 13th September the first Jessica's plan contracts financing urban development projects in the Region of Crete, with Pancretan Cooperative Bank, as agency of implementation.
Mr. Kostis Hatzidakis, speaking at the event congratulated the Prefect of Crete, Mr. Stavros Arnaoutakis, and the Pan-Cretan Cooperative Bank, as well, who managed first nation widely to implement the funding European Project «Jessica».
Pan-Cretan Cooperative Bank is the first bank to sign a funding of € 8.2 mil. euros through the Urban Development Fund Crete - Jessica for four projects with a total budget of 12 million euro. At the same time, two more projects with a total budget of 22.7 million euros have been approved by the Fund’s Investment Committee.
The President of Pan-Cretan Cooperative Bank, Mr. John Lempidakis, referring to the Bank's contribution to local development, both through resource management of «Jessica», and through its cooperation with the European Investment Bank, he gave emphasis to the difficult economic environment, in which Pan-Cretan Bank remains a healthy bank, which maintains the required capital adequacy, without recapitalization.
Specifically, the first contracts signed and projects financed by the «JESSICA» are the following:
- Restoration of the Building of Vikelaia Library. Municipality of Heraklion (ACHTARIKA) of total budget of 2.4 million euros. Vikelaia Library housed in aesthetically upgraded areas, provides modern infrastructure and high quality services to citizens, highlighting the historical city center of Heraklion.
- Construction shops blocks, offices and underground parking in the area of “Chanioporta”, Heraklion of total budget of 6.4 million euros. This project will contribute to the traffic decongestion in the wider region, with its parallel aesthetic upgrade, with the creation of green and leisure spaces.
- Improving sections of the provincial road to General University Hospital of Heraklion (PE.PA.G.N.I) of a total budget of 670,000 euros. This project will contribute to traffic congestion and improve travel conditions to and from Heraklion, while at the same time service the increased parking needs of the University Hospital of Heraklion.
- Add five more parking grounds at the Municipal Corporation of KYDON (Chania), with a budget of 2.7 million euros. The project is expected to cover the increased needs of parking and contribute to traffic congestion in the city center of Chania.
“SYNERGASIA Ltd.” which acts as a financial consultant of the Fund for Urban Development for the Region of Crete under the European Initiative “Jessica” was represented at the event by its executives, considering among others «JESSICA», as a crucial program, which starts from Crete and it is a highly innovative program, as through the public-private sector can act as a substantial and tangible response to the crisis.
