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similar to what has been done in other this is of great importance for the efficiency
European countries. In fact, it is claimed that of businesses.
it is an opportunity for the country to acquire A major upgrade has been made in the se-
a modern food park. What do you answer to curity system and surveillance of the public
them? spaces, since - for the first time - a complete
It is clear that the market needs to modern- Our facilities service all and fully operational system of rotating 24h
ize its infrastructure. I have also heard these the commercial activity operation cameras covers the entire instal-
specific positions, although not from many. lation of 26 Ha.
Designing new facilities requires time- strat- in the prefecture of Attica The security system has also been re-
egy, efficiency and effectiveness studies. and at the same time, designed, with three new security patrols
It should be taken into account that the combined with the creation of 2 new control
Central Vegetable Market of Athens, which supply the companies in rooms, that have 24-hour surveillance of the
is located within the urban complex, covers all the islands and in the rest area outside the walls, increasing the feel-
an area of 26Ha and meets the needs of the ing of security.
wholesale market of fruits and vegetables, of the mainland Greece
the wholesale market of meat and retail in Finally, would you like to share anything
fresh food, meat and fish. else with our readers?
Our facilities service all the commercial I would like to make a special reference to
activity in the prefecture of Attica and at the "e-Lahanagora" application, which we
the same time, supply the companies in all presented at the beginning of June 2021.
the islands and in the rest of the mainland The "e-Lahanagora" app is the Marketplace
Greece. of O.K.A.A., through which traders cooperat-
It is an advantage that the facility is locat- ing with O.K.A.A. have the opportunity to ac-
ed at a distance of 5.6 km from Piraeus- the quire their own online store that will operate
central port of the country, next to the road in addition to their existing, physical store.
axis of Kifissos Avenue, 9.3 km from the Ath- The "e-Lahanagora" app digitalizes and
ens-Lamia Highway and 18.6 km from the simplifies the ordering process, which can
Athens-Corinth Highway. The proximity of now be done with just one click from a smart-
it’s location plays a catalytic role in the ease phone. Thus, the application offers to busi-
of access from the catering & distribution nesses and professionals the possibility
trucks, saving valuable time and resources for online shopping and digital ordering, 24
- both financial and human. pating in sectoral exhibitions abroad, sup- hours a day.
A new facility would require an area of porting and providing trade know-how to our The application is available for free on An-
more than 50 compact Ha, free and with di- clients-renters, in the framework of the na- droid and iOS and is used exclusively by pro-
rect access to Attica, in which resides about tional strategy to increase the percentage of fessionals and businesses.
50% of the population of Greece. the primary sector at the Greek GDP. The creation and advertising costs of "e-
Lahanagora"app have been fully funded by
In recent years, the Central Markets and Apart from the above general issues that we O.K.A.A. and the application is another link in
Fisheries Organization implemented discussed, there are also the daily issues the chain of investments launched and im-
an important program of extroversion, of the Central Vegetable Market of Athens, plemented by the Organization to support
participating in many sectoral exhibitions. such as cleanliness, maintenance, parking entrepreneurship.
Are you planning to continue this program spaces, etc., which significantly determine The launch - presentation of the applica-
when the course of the pandemic allows it? its proper operation. What interventions are tion took place in a special event, with the
I think it is more than clear that since Jan- being made on these issues? political leadership of the Ministry of Devel-
uary 2020 when we took office, we had to Early in April 2020, the new administration opment present, among others.
deal with the Pandemic with the main goal implemented a new modern, highly efficient The reception of the "e-Lahanagora" app
being to continue to operate smoothly, safe- cleaning system. We have already received by the traders housed in the OKAA facili-
ly and without losses. from the Region and the Municipality of Ren- ties, and not only by the wholesalers of fruits
This goal has been achieved, since we tis a bio-waste garbage truck and 200 gar- and vegetables, but also meat and fish, has
have not closed the facility for a single day bage bins that are gradually included in the been very warm. We believe that this fact
and the whole Market is supplied with ade- collection system. will gradually lead to the wholesale of fresh
quacy and competitive prices. Major interventions were made in tele- products in the new digital age, creating a
We will continue the effort to strength- communications too. Before we took over, new Marketplace of great interest, which
en the extroversion of the Central Markets the speed of the Internet was 6mbps and will operate in combination with the existing,
and Fisheries Organization SA, by partici- now in most cases it exceeds 50Mbps and physical stores.

FROUTONEA 2021-22