By G. Hatzilidis
The latest multinational group eying use of the port of Thessaloniki is the Czech transport company CD Cargo, a subsidiary of the Czech rail operator and one of the five biggest European firms active in the sector.
Company executives on Tuesday visited the northern Greece metropolis and spoke with the Thessaloniki Port Authority’s (OLP) top management team for an initial review of prospects for cooperation in the mixed transport sector, given the now very likely prospect of the specific port’s privatization.
An international tender to sell a majority stake and management of OLP began on Monday, with tours of facilities and briefings of interested parties.
A high-ranking delegation from the Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services inaugurated the contacts, followed by the Japanese company Mitsui, with executives of P&O Steam Navigation Co. a subsidiary of Dubai’s DP World, next in line.
In a related development, Thessaloniki Mayor Yannis Boutaris on Wednesday said he has been given assurances by the relevant merchant marine minister that the leftist Greek government is considering a municipal request that OLP’s Pier 1 be excluded from the tender.
