Long-stalled infrastructure projects across Thessaloniki and wider Northern Greece are now nearing completion or advancing steadily, while new investments are being launched and key economic and employment indicators are showing marked improvement, according to Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis.
A Turning Point for the Region
Speaking at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall during an event with local business associations, Hatzidakis highlighted dramatic improvements in Central Macedonia: unemployment fell from 20.3% in 2019 to 12.2%, while per capita GDP rose by 24.3%. Similar downward trends were reported in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (from 16.8% to 9.9%) and Western Macedonia (from 27.1% to 11.9%).
Over €20 Billion in Regional Investment Since 2020
Since 2020, more than €12 billion has been allocated to Central Macedonia, around €5 billion to Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, and approximately €4.5 billion to Western Macedonia — funding infrastructure upgrades, business support, and transition initiatives. Of the latter sum, €1.38 billion is earmarked for the Just Transition Mechanism, aimed at supporting communities affected by the phase-out of lignite-based power generation.
Business Dynamism on the Rise
Entrepreneurial activity is surging: company registrations across the 16 regional units of Northern Greece jumped 86% between 2019 and 2025 — from 6,894 to 12,793. In Thessaloniki alone, they more than doubled, rising from 3,154 to 6,926 — a 120% increase.
Exports, Renewables, and Tourism Gain Momentum
Exports from Northern Greece rose by 50% between 2019 and 2024, with Central Macedonia leading the way at +54.5% — making it the country’s second-largest exporting region. Installed renewable energy capacity across the north increased by 160% over the same period. In tourism, arrivals rose 14.5%, overnight stays increased 12.6%, and accommodation sector turnover climbed 59.5% between 2019 and 2025. Thessaloniki’s ‘Macedonia’ Airport approached its historic high of eight million passengers in 2025.
Transforming Thessaloniki: Key Infrastructure Projects
The Thessaloniki Metro — now operational with 13 stations, a 9.6-kilometre line, and 18 automated trains — serves around 90,000 passengers daily and has already reduced vehicle traffic in the city centre by 15%.
The metro extension toward Kalamaria will add five new stations and 4.8 kilometres of track at a total cost of €425 million. Once complete, it is expected to generate 63,000 daily boardings and eliminate roughly 12,000 car trips per day.
Preliminary studies are also underway for 11 additional stations in northwestern Thessaloniki.
The Flyover — the city’s largest road project — carries a €463 million budget. Construction is about 60% complete, with full completion scheduled for May 2027.
Meanwhile, the expansion of Pier 6 at the Port of Thessaloniki represents a €250 million investment — part of broader efforts to strengthen the city’s role as a logistics and transport hub for Southeast Europe.