By Olga Rosca
Matteo Patrone, Managing Director for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), has paid a visit to Giurgiuleşti International Free Port, Moldova’s only sea-river port. The Bank is the sole owner of Danube Logistics SRL, the operator of the port.
Mr Patrone, who is visiting Moldova for meetings with the new government and private-sector companies, welcomed the professional management of the port by Danube Logistics SRL and stressed the importance of Moldova’s only international port to the country’s trade and economy.
He said: “The EBRD has been supporting the construction and operation of the Giurgiuleşti port since 1995. We are actively working to promote the continuation of the successful operation and development of this key infrastructure asset and will seek to attract international investors to further support and develop the port.”
Giurgiuleşti International Free Port hosts 48 resident companies, employs 517 people and serves trade with more than 50 countries. It serves the export of grain and vegetable oil, as well as the import of fuel, construction materials and general cargo.
General Director of Danube Logistics SRL, Mathias von Tucher said: “After a challenging COVID-19 pandemic year which also saw poor harvests, we expect to increase transshipment volumes to more than 1 million tonnes in 2021 from 934,000 tonnes in 2020. In addition, in 2022 we plan to start building a new berth, allowing for transshipment of dry bulk cargo and general cargo in order to expand capacity.”
When ongoing projects are completed in 2022, a total of €100 million(US$115.5million) would have been invested in the port since 2005.
The EBRD acquired 100 per cent of the shares of Danube Logistics SRL on 7 May 2021.
The Bank is a leading institutional investor in Moldova and, to date, has invested more than €1.4 billion in the country through 146 projects. It has also provided advisory services to more than 1,000 Moldovan firms to help them improve performance and grow.
Matteo Patrone is visiting Moldova to underscore the EBRD’s support for Moldova, welcome the new government’s commitment to reforms and discuss the investment climate with local businesses.
