Analysis – Local Goldair to join U.S. companies in bid for regional Greek ports concessions?

Alexandroupolis, Greece (Ports Europe) February 17, 2020 - U.S. interest in investing in the privatisation of Greek regional ports is intensifying as the local Goldair is reported to have held talks with U.S. companies and Washington's ambassador in Athens about forming a consortium to bid for operating rights in forthcoming privatizations of Alexandroupolis, Kavala and Volos ports. Last Friday, Goldair Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kallinikos Kallinikos, and Strategic Investments Director, Vassilis Maglaras, met with the US Ambassador to Greece, Jeffrey Pyatt, in Athens. Pyatt is one of several U.S. diplomats who has visited Alexandroupolis in the last year, and been highly vocal in his support for its development as a regional energy hub, which could include a gateway for U.S. liquified natural gas (LNG) exports to Europe, and highlighted it as a key region in Washington's East Mediterranean strategy. Naftemporiki, a local newspaper, reported that Goldair executives also met with U.S. transport multinational SSA Marine and the Black Summit Financial Group investment fund with a view to forming a consortium to bid for regional port tenders. Over the last year, Washington has developed closer relations with Greece, driven by a range of geopolitical and business interests. In December, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met Geoffrey Pyatt in preparation for his trip to the United States in January 2020 and met with with U.S. President Donald Trump. Alexandroupolis has been topical in the news due to the recently updated Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) signed in October 2019 by Greece and the USA. Washington is interested in an economic and military presence in Alexandroupolis to forward its geopolitical interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, which if successful, would limit the political plans of China and Russia to have more influence in the region. Washington sees Alexandroupolis port as a key factor, a port which is linked to regional energy development – the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) and the Alexandroupolis LNG facility, which could become an entry point for U.S. liquified natural gas (LNG) into Europe – and the U.S. supports these projects. The port also has a potential key political role – a port the U.S. sees as an alternative to the Bosporus Straits that connect the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. Washington would like to be involved in any expansion programme at the port and develop its local influence, as well as attempting to exclude any roles for Russia and China. Washington is likely to seek local port infrastructure for some of its military forces. To achieve its aims, Washington would be keen to see U.S. companies involved in the Alexandroupolis port privatisation. SSA Marine is a member of the Anaklia Development Consortium (ADC) in Georgia. ADC has started constructing a deep sea port in Anaklia on the country's Black Sea coast. However, ADC is now in dispute with the Georgian government after problems raising finance, interest in the rival development of Poti port, and the role of the Georgian government, resulting in the Tbilisi government cancelled the contract last month. The government has said that the contract will be retendered and that the project will go ahead. Regarding the talks with U.S. companies, Kallinikos said: "The cooperation of our group with high-profile multinational corporations of American interests in order to participate as a joint venture in the planned privatizations of Alexandroupolis, Kavala and Volos ports is a strategic priority. Our group, with its leading presence in the field of rail transport and logistics in Greece, can ensure the success of the project, so that these ports will become the growth poles of the Greek economy as a whole, as well as the local economies. at the same time our country is a leader in the field of combined transport in the EU". The Goldair group is one of the largest group of companies in the fields of tourism and transportation in Greece. Having started as a handling business in airports, it has expanded into other areas such as logistics. SSA Marine operates marine terminal and rail yard operations in over 250 locations globally, handling 14 million marine TEU annually. BlackSummit is a boutique-style, discrete, independent financial consulting and asset management firm. Further relevant Ports Europe reading: Analysis – Alexandroupolis is leading port of interest in Greek regional harbour privatisation September 3, 2019 Analysis – In a win for Russia, Anaklia deep sea port project descends into chaos September 1, 2019 Copyright (C) Ports Europe. All Rights Reserved. 2020.

Analysis – Local Goldair to join U.S. companies in bid for regional Greek ports concessions?

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Analysis – Local Goldair to join U.S. companies in bid for regional Greek ports concessions?

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