PM Kosor inaugurates new container terminal in Ploce Port

Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor on Wednesday inaugurated a new container terminal in Ploce Port worth EUR 33.6 million, including close to 12 million euros of government funds.

Construction work on the terminal started in January 2008. The terminal covers an area of almost four hectares and its current capacity is 60,000 container units.

So far, 44.2 million euros has been invested in the project, including 15 million euros of budgetary funds.

The concession contract between the Ploce Port Authority and the company Ploce Port also envisages a second and a third stage of construction work, after which the terminal will have 23 hectares in area and an annual capacity of 500,000 container units.

PM Kosor said that overall investments in the container terminal in Ploce Port would amount to some EUR 139 million.

The construction of the container terminal is envisaged by a development programme of Ploce Port, which is a part of a transport and trade integration project which also envisages the start of construction work on a terminal for dry bulk cargo by the beginning of 2011. The project envisages other infrastructure investments as well.

The purpose of the project, which is mostly financed with a World Bank loan, is to increase the capacity and efficiency of Ploce Port and the quality of its services, as well as to improve the competitiveness of the transport Corridor Vc, with Ploce Port being its starting and ending point.

Kosor and Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic said the development of Ploce Port had huge economic importance for "Croatia's south, the entire Croatia, as well as for neighbouring countries."

"The government had understanding for this project and, in cooperation with the World Bank and the European Development Bank, gave the impetus," said Kosor.

She said the inauguration of the new terminal was a historic moment, "as Ploce Port is important for us and in the future for the European Union and other neighbours," such as Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary.

She announced that the Ravca-Vrgorac section of the Zagreb-Dubrovnik highway would be completed by next summer and the section to Ploce by 2012.

Kosor said that despite the difficult economic situation, "we have managed to overcome many obstacles and we will certainly overcome the remaining ones and fully implement the government's Economic Recovery Programme."

"None of us can do anything alone. All together, we can do everything," she said, calling on everyone to contribute, including trade unions.

Bebic pushed for building the Peljesac Bridge and the 185 km of motorway from Vrgorac to Boka Kotorska, Montenegro.

Also attending the inauguration were Finance Minister Ivan Suker and Transport and Infrastructure Minister Bozidar Kalmeta.


(Hina)