The port has been appraised at 360 million euros. Greece wants to increase investment at the ports and make the country a transshipment hub for southeastern Europe
Plans to privatize container terminals in the Greek ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki (Salonica) are reportedly creating strong interest by international terminal and shipping companies.
Greek newspapers reported last week that ZIM Integrated Shipping Services may submit a bid in the privatization of the Port of Salonica.
The Greek government had decided to privatize the country's two major ports, Piraeus and Salonica, and last week issued the first tender for Salonica port, which has been appraised at 360 million euros.
Greece wants to increase investment at the ports and make the country a transshipment hub for southeastern Europe.
The tender covers running the port for 30 years. The winner must pay 25 million upon signing an agreement with the Greek government, and the rest when the port equipment is transferred to the port's new operator.
A report published last week on Southeast European Times, a web site sponsored by the U.S. European Command, the joint military command responsible for U.S. operations in Europe, Africa and the Mediterranean Basin, said "the tender has attracted interest from groups in Denmark, China, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland."
The report adds that "some of the interested parties will likely attempt to form alliances -- perhaps even including a Greek partner in order to mount a winning bid."
The Greek government's ports privatization plans, based on European Union demands that member countries streamline their port systems by privatizion, have triggered violent protests and strikes among port workers.
