“The purchase of Danube Logistics, operator of the Giurgiulesti International Free Port, from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development by the National Company S.A. Administration of Sea Ports of Constanta (APM) from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will bring significant benefits to the Romanian state, being a more profitable investment than any other option available on the market at the moment,” APM representatives claim, writes viata-libera.ro.
The takeover of the Moldovan operator turns Galati into a strategic hub between Moldova, Ukraine and the European Union. According to Romanian Senator Gheorghe Stefanacke, Galati will strengthen its role as an industrial center and will manage major trade flows, integrating this strategic corridor into the national network.
“In practice, the city can become a logistics hub between Moldova, Ukraine and the rest of the European Union,” the senator said. He emphasized that the investment provides an important route “for trade flows and for Ukraine’s future recovery.”
This acquisition goes beyond the commercial sphere and represents a real strategic chess move. For the Galati region, this takeover is an economic “breath of fresh air”: the integration of Danube ports with maritime ports will create a logistics corridor capable of attracting large-scale investments.
Moreover, Romania has pledged to invest an additional $28 million to modernize the Moldovan terminal, paving the way for a modern hub important in Ukraine’s future reconstruction process.
The Moldovan government is in favor of
For its part, yesterday, March 4, the Moldovan government approved changes to the Law on Port Activity to strengthen its role in regional trade and support the national economy.
Thanks to the amendments, the port will be able to operate beyond 2030, when the term stipulated by the current regulations expires, until 2075, leasing 55 hectares of land from Moldova and paying rent for it.
The port of Giurgiulesti is the main access point of the Republic of Moldova to international maritime and river transportation. Together with the Passenger and Cargo Port, it forms the Giurgiulesti port complex – the most important logistics hub for the country’s foreign trade, the Moldovan government’s press service reported.
Socialists vs.
In January, the opposition Party of Socialists of Moldova (PSRM) strongly protested against the sale of the port to Romania.
According to the socialists, this is our country’s only access to the sea, and against the backdrop of the serious problems currently facing the Ukrainian ports of Odessa and Reni, the importance of the Giurgiulesti port is growing rapidly.
“Built in 2005-2009 at the cost of enormous efforts and with a far-sighted approach, this facility should under no circumstances be ceded to other states. Especially it cannot end up in the hands of Romania, which is our direct competitor through the ports of Galati and Constanta. It is an instrument of sovereignty, a pillar of economic independence and a key element of Moldova’s future. The state is obliged to control it. Without compromise,” the PSRM statement warned.
On March 4, during the plenary session of the Parliament, PSRM deputy Bogdan Tircea proposed to include in the agenda draft law No. 58 on returning the Giurgiulesti International Port to state ownership.
According to the MP, the bill envisages the acquisition of a controlling stake in the commercial company that manages the port, worth up to 1 billion lei, which is approximately 52 million euros.
Bogdan Tsyrdia said that, according to various sources, the annual turnover of the Giurgiulesti International Port in 2023-2024 amounted to about 16-18 million euros. In his opinion, if the state controlled the port, the revenues could increase 3-5 times, reaching approximately 10 million euros per year.
The deputy also emphasized that the arguments according to which the port was concessioned in 2004-2005 are irrelevant, because at that time it was concessioned to a private economic agent, while at present the port is managed by a company owned by another state.
The initiative was rejected by the PAS parliamentary majority.
The situation may yet change
The Administration of Constanta Seaports (APM) is controlled by the Romanian Ministry of Transport (80%) and the Proprietatea Foundation (20%).
According to profit.ro, the Proprietatea Foundation has filed a lawsuit demanding that the acquisition of the port be recognized as invalid.
In the middle of last year, Proprietatea Foundation asked the court to annul the AMP shareholders’ decision of June 19, 2025, which approved the full purchase of Giurgiulesti port. The case is pending, with the next hearing scheduled for mid-April.
