“The acquisition of Giurgiulesti port is necessary, given the competition between Constanta port and other ports in the Black Sea basin, as well as ports of EU member states, and in the context of the expansion of Constanta port territory and its transformation into a market leader in Central and South-Eastern Europe, as well as the establishment of new transportation routes in the current regional context. Its strategic role in the region has increased and the port is well positioned to serve the future reconstruction of Ukraine,” Sherban said.
According to him, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (which has a dominant stake in Constanta Sea Ports Authority) was involved in the successful completion of this transaction from the very beginning, providing a thorough analysis, updated risk assessments and a clear vision of the long-term implications.
By taking the Giurgiulesti port under its control, Romania is determined to develop it and strengthen its position in the new geopolitical and economic context. According to Sherban, significant long-term investments are planned to increase the port’s capacity and enhance its strategic importance in the region.
“We want Giurgiulesti to be fully integrated into regional transportation networks. This could include, for example, supporting external infrastructure projects such as a highway or expressway from Galati to Giurgiulesti (directly connecting the port to the European road network) or partnering with the port of Galati (on the other side of the Danube, in Romania) to work together. Such measures would allow to integrate more closely the port of Giurgiulesti into the regional transportation network, strengthening its role as a gateway to the EU for Moldova,” concluded Ciprian Constantin Sherban.
Giurgiulesti has two separate port entities: the International Free Port, managed by Danube Logistics and owned by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the State Port, owned by the Moldovan government. Authorities in Chisinau have previously stated that the state port is not for sale.
