The Giurgiulesti State Port will be developed so that in five years it can operate at its full potential, declared Andrei Spînu, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, in a press conference on Wednesday.

The development project involves attracting a private partner to be selected in an international tender.

“After years of stagnation, the time has come for the Giurgiulesti Port to become modern and competitive, and boost the economy of the country and of the region”, declared Andrei Spînu.

The project envisions building a new grain terminal with a transshipment capacity of approximately 800,000 tonnes per year, and also grain loaders with processing speeds of 1500 t/h. Railway lines will be developed and a new unloading facility will be built, among other infrastructure.

“Our plan is to complete this project in the shortest timeframe possible. However, we all understand the complexity and amount of work involved, so we’ve broken it down into stages. By mid-2025, we will complete the feasibility study and tender process, and by the end of 2025 we aim to sign the contract and attract the financing needed for the project. The actual construction of the infrastructure will last 2 years, from 2026 to 2027. And from 2028, the port will operate at its maximum potential”, stated Minister Andrei Spînu.

The International Finance Corporation will act as a consultant, helping the Government with several important aspects, including the conduct of a transparent investment competition. The Corporation’s country manager, Galina Cicanici, said that her organization’s goal is to develop the infrastructure of Moldova and support the Government’s efforts in attracting quality investment.

Vladimir Bolea, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, said that the planned measures are expected by the entire Moldovan agriculture. For example, the development of railway lines and the railway unloading facility means faster processes and less costs for transport, for logistics and more money that stays with the farmers.

Roman Cojuhari, director of the Public Property Agency, stated that the public-private partnership instrument, if applied correctly, generates positive results for both the state and users. The PPA aims to organize a transparent tender process and sign a balanced contract with the winning bidder. He added that the Government will not spend public money for this initiative. The construction and development of the port will be made from private investments that will be recovered from the operations carried out under the contract.

The estimated cost of the project is approximately $34 million.