Negotiations over the purchase of the Giurgiulești International Port are ongoing, but Moldova’s authorities have not disclosed details of the unfinished deal. The Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization noted that the port operator, Danube Logistics, is a private company wholly owned by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The statement came after Romanian media reported on 19 November that “the government in Bucharest has already transferred the final installment for the port purchase,” reports NewsMaker.
Moldova’s Ministry of Economic Development clarified that talks on possible cooperation with Romania in managing port infrastructure “are part of a commercial deal that is currently in progress.” Government representatives said they “cannot disclose further details at this time” but emphasized that any deal for this strategic asset will be concluded “exclusively in the country’s interest.”
On 19 October, Romanian media reported that “Romania purchased the Giurgiulești port in a deal reportedly finalized recently.” MEP Nicu Ștefănuță commented on this on Facebook, following his meeting with Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Musteanu in Brussels. Ștefănuță wrote that:
“How can we attract serious investment to Moldova? How can we raise people’s living standards? 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 critically important infrastructure.”
Romania has pledged to invest over €24 million in modernizing the port infrastructure. The Giurgiulești port is considered a crucial link connecting Moldova to European trade corridors and the Black Sea.
For reference, on 14 April, the EBRD announced a tender to find a new investor for the Giurgiulești International Port. The bank stressed that the tender is conducted in full coordination with the Moldovan government, including considerations of the port’s future legal and commercial structure.
On 16 April, the Ministry of Infrastructure commented on the EBRD’s decision to seek a new investor for the Giurgiulești International Port. The ministry emphasized that the government will ensure that the EBRD-announced tender proceeds in accordance with the law and national interests.
The Giurgiulești port complex is Moldova’s only port with direct access to international waterways and the Black Sea. The complex includes the Giurgiulești Free International Port, managed by Danube Logistics, whose owner is the EBRD, and the Giurgiulești cargo-passenger port, managed by the state enterprise Portul Fluvial Ungheni.
