Inauguration of the new VIANEX facilities in Gerakas
Martes, 28 Junio 2022 20:05After a record year for the Group, it continues the same steady growth with a new major investment of 10 million euros
The new VIANEX Group facilities in Gerakas were inaugurated with a special event on Tuesday 28 June by Mr. Dimitris Giannakopoulos, President and CEO of VIANEX Group, also in the presence of Messrs. Adonis Georgiades, Minister of Development and Investment and Thanos Plevris, Minister of Health.
In contrast to the current inward-looking business climate and despite the challenges, the VIANEX Group keeps on taking firm steps towards development and continues to invest in Greece, strengthening both its positive footprint in the Greek economy and society, but also expanding its portfolio. The investment in the Group’s new facilities in Gerakas, amounting to 10 million euros, will give new momentum to the companies VIANEX and VIAN and the products distributed to the ever-increasing network of partners. The new facilities have warehouses covering a total of approximately 9,000 square meters and with a capacity for up to 10,000 pallets of products, while products with approximately 500 different codes are packaged and stored and prepared for distribution to 5,750 pharmacies all over Greece. It is estimated that there will be 60,000 orders from the network of pharmacies per year. The new facilities also feature an EOF Labeling Department with five labeling lines, training areas and several ancillary areas, as well as comfortable, new offices and gardens, offering an excellent environment to the company’s 225 employees.
Mr. Dimitris Giannakopoulos, President and CEO of VIANEX Group, thanked the guests and said: “The investment of more than €10 million was made in difficult circumstances, with many obstacles and uncertainties. For example, for the period 2021- 2022 when this investment was launched, the clawback and rebate at Group level reached €95 million. VIANEX Group pays a very high price in mandatory discounts and returns. Despite the unbearable burdens and obstacles, the Giannakopoulos family and VIANEX are investing in Greece. Our companies never left to go to tax havens. We insist on supporting Greek business, the Greek economy and the future of the country. Today we are presenting the first completed project in our investment programme, and we will soon have more information on the progress of our next projects. Because VIANEX wants to continue to invest in Greece and make Greeks proud!”
Mr. Adonis Georgiades, Minister of Development and Investment, addressed the guests and noted: “I am here today out of unreserved respect for the Giannakopoulos family for all that they have contributed to the Greek economy. As a government, we have proven that we believe in supporting the Greek pharmaceutical industry as a major driver of the country’s progress. We are committed to keep on the same track, striving to create an environment that will help investment to flourish.”
Mr. Thanos Plevris, Minister of Health, also gave a short address stating: “VIANEX has ‘accustomed’ us to investments that make the country’s GDP rise. It has made a major contribution to the great work done by the National Health System, while contributing to strengthening the health system significantly based on the needs of the outlying Greek regions. Also, when the debate in Europe revolves around production and its size, I am glad that Greek companies, such as VIANEX, are taking advantage of the investment clawback and expanding their presence in our country. We believe that we will slowly manage to rationalize the clawback, because in the end everything is for the benefit of Greek patients.”
Finally, Mr. Konstantinos Panagoulias, Vice-Chairman of VIANEX S.A., noted: “This investment mainly concerns handling and logistics. Because we recently saw an increase in our products, and thus an increased need for distribution. And that’s where we chose to be “strategically autonomous” in distribution, so that we are not relying on third parties, we are able to ensure the quality of our products and finally to maintain our customer-centric approach. In addition, the investment clawback has given us a boost and we hope that soon there will be more favourable conditions for companies that choose to invest in Attica.”
After the end of the short greetings, a sanctification ceremony was held by His Beatitude The Metropolitan Nikolaos of Messogaia and Lavreotiki, and the ribbon was symbolically cut by Mr. Giannakopoulos and the Ministers Messrs. Georgiades and Mr. Plevris.
The event was attended by the close family of Mr. Dimitris Giannakopoulos, the Management Team of VIANEX Group, as well as high-ranking executives with many years of service to the Group. It was also attended by representatives of the State and Local Government, as well as partners from the health sector, the pharmaceutical industry,the communication industry, etc.
Among others, the Deputy Minister of Health, Mrs. Zoe Rapti, the Secretary General for Health Services, Mr. Ioannis Kotsiopoulos, the Regional Governor of Attica, Mr. Georgios Patoulis, the Attica Vice-Regional Governor of Development, Mr. Georgios Vlachos, the Vice-Regional Governor of Health & Municipal Care for Attica, Mr. Ioannis Kechris, the Mayor of Pallini-Gerakas, Mr. Athanasios Zoutsos, the Deputy Mayors of Pallini-Gerakas, Mr. Dimitrios Karras and Dimitrios Baxevanis, etc.