Limited Funding Compared to Romanian Ports
Chisinau has acknowledged that convincing Romania to invest significantly in the Giurgiulesti Port will be challenging.
According to Moldovan officials, Romania is prioritizing investments in its own Danube ports, allocating substantially larger sums compared to the €24 million planned for Giurgiulesti.
Investment Gap Highlights Disparity
Member of Parliament Gabriela Cuneva pointed out that Romania has invested over €50 million in partial modernization of berths at the Port of Braila and more than €120 million in the nearby Port of Galați, located just a few kilometers from Giurgiulesti.
Both ports fall under Romania’s Ministry of Transport, which prioritizes national economic interests.
Government Response and Investor Concerns
Moldovan Economy Minister Dumitru Osmochescu stated that the port has gone through a “turbulent period,” and investor confidence remains low. He emphasized that Moldova must improve transparency and predictability to attract funding.
Questions Over Strategic Decisions
Infrastructure Minister Andrei Spinu gave a brief response when asked why Moldova did not acquire the port earlier, stating only that the government had its reasons.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dorin Recean acknowledged that the transfer of port management was finalized at the end of last year, while the legal framework is still being developed.
Ongoing Legal and Policy Adjustments
The government has already approved changes to tax and customs regimes for the port and extended land use rights until 2075. However, questions remain about the long-term strategy and economic implications of the decision.
