The government is monitoring the situation and has issued clarifications on interpretations regarding the possible sale of the port and the role of the state in the process.
“We are following the situation, but we want to make some clarifications. There is the Giurgiulesti International Free Port, which was established by law in 2005, and there is also a state port. The state port will not be sold – there are no such discussions and plans,” said Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization Eugeniu Osmochescu.
He noted that the Giurgiulesti International Free Port is managed by the EBRD, which is a legal entity and has the right to enter into commercial relations with other parties:
“For this reason, there are ongoing negotiations between the EBRD and the Port of Constanta on the possible purchase-sale of the Giurgiulesti International Free Port, which occupies an area of 55 hectares. We are monitoring the situation through existing institutions to assess the economic, security and environmental impact.”
He stressed that the negotiations between the two private organizations are taking place outside the state:
“They take place outside the Moldovan state, it does not interfere, it is the free will and free expression of these organizations, which in the end can come to a common agreement in the interests of Moldova.”
Osmochescu also reiterated the commitment to full transparency of the process:
“We reiterate our commitment to full transparency in the decision-making process regarding any action related to the alienation of the Giurgiulesti International Free Port, given its crucial strategic role in the economic security and national defense of the state.”
As Logos Press previously reported, Romania has shown interest in acquiring the Giurgiulesti port since 2023, as it is an important point in cargo shipments to and from Ukraine. In early November, Romanian Transport Minister Ciprian Sherban announced the acceptance of the proposal to acquire the Giurgiulesti port in Moldova.
The Giurgiulesti port is the country’s only direct access point to international maritime transportation and is operated by I.C.S. Danube Logistics, which is owned by the EBRD.
