Romania in talks to acquire Giurgiulesti port in Moldova

The Romanian government is set to discuss an important memorandum on August 28 regarding the acquisition of the Giurgiulești International Free Port in the Republic of Moldova from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Report informs referring to Moldova Invest.

According to the government agenda, this acquisition would be carried out through the National Company “Maritime Ports Administration” S.A. Constanța, a commercial enterprise under the authority of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.

Currently, the Giurgiulești International Free Port is operated by Danube Logistics SRL, which is owned by the EBRD. The memorandum on the government’s agenda aims to approve the initiation of negotiations with the EBRD for the purchase of the shares held by the bank in Danube Logistics SRL, enabling the Romanian state to take control of the port.

This strategic move was first announced by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in September 2023, in the context of Romania’s ambition to become a major logistical and commercial hub in Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts. The Prime Minister highlighted the critical importance of Constanța Port and mentioned that Romania had already initiated discussions with the EBRD to purchase Giurgiulești Port.

“We must realize that Constanța Port is strategic at this moment. I don’t know what will happen with Odessa. There is also a smaller port in the Republic of Moldova, Giurgiulești, and through the Minister of Transport, Romania has already expressed its interest to the EBRD, as the majority shareholder in Giurgiulești, to purchase it for the Romanian state and to develop it,” Prime Minister Ciolacu said on Digi 24.