The two-day conference organized by the Kavala Development Company, on the occasion of the completion of 35 years of presence and contribution to local and rural development, was attended today in Kavala by the Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Mr. Christodoulos Topsidis.
The event was an opportunity to take stock of an important journey, but also a starting point for discussion about the new era of the LEADER program, which continues to be a key tool for supporting rural areas, local entrepreneurship and regional societies.
The two-day conference was also attended by the Secretary General of Union Resources and Infrastructure of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Ms. Argyro Zerva, who in her greetings emphasized the work that the Kavala Development Agency has produced and planned, as well as the president of the Kavala Development Agency and mayor of Thasos, Mr. Lefteris Kyriakides, the deputy governors, Mr. Theodoros Markopoulos, Alexander Iosifidis and Panagiotis Archontis, as well as the mayors of Kavala, Mr. Theodoros Mouriadis, Nestos, Mr. Savvas Michaelides and Pangaios, Mr. Philippos Anastasiadis.
In his greeting, the Regional Governor of AMTH congratulated the Kavala Development Agency for its long-standing contribution to the utilization of European resources and the implementation of projects with a real impact on local communities.
Mr. Topsidis emphasized that the completion of 35 years of operation of Development Kavala "is not simply an account of an important journey, but also an opportunity to recognize the role played by LEADER in rural development, in supporting local communities and in shaping a different development concept."
As he pointed out, LEADER has never been just a financial tool, but an integrated method of local development, based on the participation of local communities, on the cooperation of the public and private sectors and on the exploitation of the special characteristics of each region.
He made particular reference to the program's footprint in the Prefecture of Kavala, noting that through LEADER approximately 300 projects and investments were supported, in sectors such as tourism, agri-food, processing, services, small production units, the regeneration of settlements, public spaces, cultural infrastructure and actions to promote local identity. Mr. Topsides did not fail to mention the also very good performance of the other Development Companies operating within the boundaries of the AMTH Region.
"Behind these projects are businesses that were supported, productive activities that were modernized, infrastructure that was improved, settlements that were upgraded, and local communities that were activated," he said characteristically.
The Regional Governor also emphasized that the Kavala Development Authority has functioned over the years as a crucial pillar of planning, coordination and implementation, but also as a link between the European Union, the state, the local government, local bodies, businesses and societies in the region.
Referring to the new programming period, Mr. Topsides noted that the new LEADER 2023–2027 is the natural continuation of a successful course and at the same time a new development cycle. For the Kavala region, as he mentioned, the new local program has public expenditure of approximately 5,6 million euros, with the possibility of further support during the implementation process.
These resources, according to the Regional Governor of AMTh, Mr. Topsides, can be directed towards strengthening entrepreneurship and local production, investments in tourism, processing and services, small infrastructure and quality of life projects, actions for the environment and the green transition, as well as inter-local and transnational collaborations.
In closing, Mr. Topsides congratulated the management, executives and everyone who has worked over time at Kavala Development, emphasizing that the company's 35 years of service "are not only a record of success, but also a responsibility for the future."
"The Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace fully recognizes the importance of LEADER and the role of Development Companies as bodies close to local communities. The new era of LEADER can constitute another creative and substantial development cycle for Kavala, for our Region and for the Greek countryside as a whole," concluded the Regional Governor.

 

The greeting text of the Regional Governor of AMTH

 

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
Dear representatives of the Local Government,
Dear representatives of productive and social actors,
Dear Kavala Development Executives,
Friends,

It is with great pleasure that I am with you today, at an event with substantial content and intense symbolism: the completion of 35 years of the contribution of Development Kavala to local development and the transition to the new era of LEADER.
Today's meeting is not just a review of an important journey. It is also an opportunity to recognize the role that LEADER has played in rural development, in supporting local communities and in shaping a different development concept.
LEADER has never been just a financial tool. It has been and remains an integrated method of local development. An approach based on the participation of local communities, on public and private sector cooperation, on the formulation of development interventions based on the needs and priorities of the local community itself, and on the exploitation of the particular characteristics of each region.
This is precisely its great value. It gave a voice to local communities, a role for the countryside and a perspective for its people. It showed that development is not only planned centrally, but is built with cooperation, trust, participation and knowledge of the real needs of each place.
In the Prefecture of Kavala, the implementation of LEADER over the years has left a significant and visible footprint. Approximately 300 projects and investments were supported through the program, in sectors that directly touch the local economy and the daily lives of citizens.
Through LEADER, support was provided to tourist accommodation and agro-tourism infrastructure, catering and recreation areas, processing and standardization units for local products, investments in agri-food, small production and craft units, service businesses, regeneration of settlements, public spaces, cultural infrastructure and actions to promote local identity.
Behind these projects are:
businesses that were supported,
productive activities that were modernized,
improved infrastructure,
settlements that were upgraded and local communities that were activated.
In other words, LEADER was not limited to one category of interventions. It simultaneously supported entrepreneurship, production, tourism, culture, quality of life and rural cohesion.
His contribution, however, is not only reflected in numbers and projects. It is also reflected in the change in mentality he cultivated. He created trust, experience of cooperation, a development culture and the ability to plan and implement. He contributed to local communities seeing development as a process in which they can actively participate.

On this journey, the role of Development Kavala has been decisive.
The Kavala Development Authority functioned as a crucial pillar of planning, coordination and implementation, but also as a link between the European Union, the state, local government, local bodies, businesses and local communities.
It did not simply manage programs. It contributed to the creation of know-how, institutional memory, relationships of trust and development continuity. It is an example of an institution that knows the place, listens to its needs and transforms European policies into real local interventions.
Today, the new era finds local communities facing complex challenges: demographic pressures, climate crisis, economic changes, the need for green and energy adaptation, the need to strengthen local production and the need to retain human resources in our country.
In the face of these challenges, we need planning, collaboration and targeted interventions. We need tools that do not approach development in isolation, but connect entrepreneurship with quality of life, production with local identity and European policies with the needs of citizens.

In this context, the new LEADER 2023–2027 constitutes the natural continuation of a successful path and at the same time a new development cycle. For the region, the new local program has a public expenditure of approximately 5,6 million euros, with the possibility of further support during the implementation process.
These resources can be directed towards strengthening entrepreneurship and local production, investments in tourism, manufacturing and services, small infrastructure and quality of life projects, actions for the environment and the green transition, as well as collaborations and inter-local or transnational projects.
As the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, we fully recognize the importance of LEADER and the role of Development Companies as entities that are close to local communities and can contribute substantially to the utilization of available resources.
Our Region needs such synergies. It needs a plan, trust and interventions that support local entrepreneurship, strengthen production, highlight the identity of each region and create prospects for the people of our country.
In closing, I would like to warmly congratulate the Kavala Development Agency for its timeless contribution. I would like to congratulate the administration, the executives and everyone who has worked all these years to transform European resources into projects, investments and substantial interventions for local development.
The 35 years we are honoring today are not only a record of success. They are also a responsibility for the future. A responsibility to continue with consistency, collaboration, and vision.
I hope that the new era of LEADER will constitute another creative and substantial development cycle for Kavala, for our Region and for the Greek countryside as a whole.
Thank you very much.