Negotiations for the Sale of the Giurgiulești Port to Romania: Position of the Moldovan Government
The negotiations for the purchase of the International Giurgiulești Port are ongoing, but the official authorities in Moldova have not yet disclosed the details of the potential agreement. According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, the port is operated by Danube Logistics, which is fully owned by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This statement comes amid reports from Romanian media that the government in Bucharest has already made the final payment for the port.
This is reported by AgroReview
Commercial Agreement and Strategic Importance of the Port
The ministry emphasizes that the negotiations concern possible cooperation with Romania regarding the management of port infrastructure and are part of a commercial agreement that is in the process of being implemented. Government representatives noted that they cannot provide additional details at this time but stress that any agreements regarding this strategic asset will be made solely in favor of Moldova.
On October 19, Romanian media spread information that Romania had acquired the Giurgiulești Port following the completion of the relevant agreement. MEP Nicu Ștefănuță reported this on social media after a meeting with Moldovan Prime Minister Alexander Mușuc in Brussels.
“How can we attract serious investments to Moldova? How can we improve the living standards of people? Romania is part of the solution. Recently, it purchased the Giurgiulești Port. Few know that this is a strategic and well-thought-out investment because the port is critical infrastructure.”
Romania has committed to investing over 24 million euros in the modernization of the port’s infrastructure. Giurgiulești is seen as a key transport hub connecting Moldova with European trade corridors and the Black Sea.
EBRD Tender and the Role of the State in the Future Port
It is worth noting that in April, the EBRD announced a tender to find a new investor for the International Giurgiulești Port. The bank assured that the process is taking place in close coordination with the Moldovan government, considering the future legal and commercial structure of the port.
The Ministry of Infrastructure of Moldova, commenting on this decision, emphasized that it will ensure compliance with legislation during the tender process and will defend national interests at every stage of the process.
The Giurgiulești port complex is the only port in Moldova that has direct access to international waterways and the Black Sea. The complex includes the Giurgiulești Free International Port, managed by Danube Logistics, which is owned by the EBRD, as well as the Giurgiulești cargo-passenger port managed by the state enterprise Portul Fluvial Ungheni.