Moldovan minister details strategic advantages of Giurgiulești port sale

The Moldovan Minister of Infrastructure, Vladimir Bolya, stated that the sale of the Giurgiulești International Free Port to the Romanian port of Constanța will integrate the facility into the European Union’s port system, ensuring transparency, full compliance with European legislation, and access to the Schengen zone.

Bolya made the remarks during an interview on the TVR Moldova program Punctul pe Azi, as per Caliber.Az.

“Giurgiulești International Free Port covers 58 hectares and is currently under a 99-year concession. Once the transaction is completed — when the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) sells the port to Constanța — economic operators in Moldova will only gain advantages,” Bolya said. “Giurgiulești will become part of a port located in the EU. This will mean maximum transparency, application of European legislation, and access to Schengen traffic. In effect, the port will be fully brought in line with European standards and will become the first facility from Moldova to enter the Schengen zone. Economic operators will derive only benefits from this.”

Bolya emphasised that, under current conditions, the Giurgiulești port complex — which includes both the private EBRD-owned port and the state-operated port — is not realistically capable of competing with the major ports in the region.

“Just 15 kilometres from our border is the Ukrainian port of Reni, a large hub with significant depth and 27 berths. By comparison, Giurgiulești International Free Port has three berths, and the state port has only one. The first port is on the Danube, the second on the Prut. After dredging, the depth of the state port on the Prut has become comparable to that of the Danube, but such work must be conducted continuously to ensure vessels can dock,” he said.

Bolya further highlighted the broader competitive landscape in the region. Within a radius of 160 kilometers from Moldova lies the seaport of Odesa, capable of receiving ocean-going vessels, which competes with the Romanian-European port of Constanța. On the other hand, the Romanian ports of Brăila and Galați, located within the EU and the Schengen zone, also compete in the regional maritime sector. “All of these ports are competitors for us,” the minister noted.

He recalled that in July 2025, the Moldovan authorities approved a preliminary application by the port of Constanța to acquire Danube Logistics, the operator of Giurgiulești International Free Port, which is owned by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Negotiations regarding the sale of Giurgiulești International Free Port are currently ongoing.

By Tamilla Hasanova