Heracles General Cement : ALTERNATE MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE DIMITRIS VITSAS MEETS "HERACLES" GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR GEORGIOS MICHOS

Today, Friday June 24, Alternate Minister of National Defence, Dimitris Vitsas had a meeting in his office at the Ministry, with George Michos, CEO of the Heracles Group of Companies, member of LafargeHolcim. The discussion revolved around the Group responding to a call from the Refugee Crisis Coordinating Management Centre for the development of public and private partnership initiatives in addressing and managing the refugee crisis.

The Heracles Group representative assured the Minister that supporting Greek society and in particular vulnerable groups is one of Group's commitments, in the context of its Social Responsibility strategy, and that it will assist the Greek State in its efforts to address the refugee crisis. Note that, to date, the Group has already offered building materials thus contributing to the construction of refugee hospitality centres in Attica, Malakasa, Ioannina and Kilkis.

In his statement, the Alternate Minister of National Defence, Mr Dimitris Vitsas, said 'Managing the refugee-immigrant issue is a national affair. In this sense, apart from the Government, which carries the greatest responsibility, the Greek society and other social partners, such as companies, also have a role to play and they demonstrate that on a daily basis. We deeply appreciate the response to the call of the Refugee Crisis Coordinating Management Centre for the development of public and private partnership initiatives on this major issue. I believe that on the occasion of this affair, we are fostering relationships of cooperation and mutual understanding that will prove very useful in the future'.

In turn, Heracles Group CEO, Mr George Michos, stated that: 'For more than a century, we have been unwaveringly committed to caring and supporting our country. At the Heracles Group of Companies, we have a deeply established tradition of developing partnerships for the Sustainable Development of all social groups. Therefore, this is yet another initiative which indicates our strategic choice to stand by the State, so as to effectively contribute to the difficult task of supporting and comforting the refugees. Our objective is to continue offering our support in any way and by any means, but above all substantially, wherever there is need.