Microsoft's mammoth investment is just around the corner, as the last of the hurdles are removed, with expectations being that work on the construction of the three data centres that will change the country's image in data handling will begin soon.
Following the issuance of the Presidential Decree approving the Special Spatial Development Plan for the Spata investment and the strategic environmental impact study, the way is now open for the contractor to be appointed to carry out the works, based on the new timetable that has emerged after about four years since the investment was announced.
In February there will be the emergence of the contractor, as estimated by Microsoft's General Manager for Greece, Cyprus and Malta, Gianna Andronopoulou, on the sidelines of the 1st MIT EmTech Europe 2024, which described as a milestone the issuance of the Presidential Decree which was published in the Official Gazette on 15 January.
Andronopoulou, although she did not reveal when the work will start, noted that there are now some minor details left concerning some studies for the awarding of the contractor, while she underlined that the cooperation with the Greek authorities is at a very good level.
Recall that last week Microsoft's 1 billion investment, which has been included in the Strategic Investment Law, received fast track incentives by decision of Minister of Development Mr. Skreka.
According to reports, bids for the project in the relevant tender have been submitted: GEK Terna's joint venture with Italian multinational group Renco, Aktor and Mytilineos.
Microsoft's investment project will promote the digital transformation of Greece and is expected to contribute to employment, knowledge and technology transfer, the strengthening of economic activities at national and local level and the creation of high added value.
The total cost of the investment project, based on the investment dossier submitted, amounts to EUR 976.168 million excluding VAT. The budget includes capital expenditure of EUR 746,549 million for the purchase of the land, the construction of the buildings and the purchase of the necessary equipment, as well as operating expenditure of EUR 229,62 million over an eight-year horizon (payroll, facilities management and maintenance costs).
Microsoft's investment in Greece concerns the creation of a complex of three Data Centers and Technology Support Centers (Data Centers) in Attica, in order to develop and provide cloud services (Microsoft Cloud) in Greece (Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Dynamics 365 and Power Platform), and is the largest investment that has been included in the Strategic Investment Law and was supported by the government with great enthusiasm, as it was the deal that marked the change of track for Greece in FDI.
The investment is expected to create 300 new jobs over a 10-year horizon and will be implemented in three privately owned properties. The first data center will be built within the Business Park "Petra - Gialou - Voulia - Prokalisi", in the Municipal Unit of Spata - Loutsa, in the municipality of Spata - Artemis, while the second and the third will be built in the location "Bourboutsana" in the municipality of Kropias. The first data centre, with a capacity of 19,2 MW, will be developed on a section of 22,3 ha of the total area of 85 ha in the Spata business park.
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