CHINA's Cosco Pacific will operate Pier 2 and Pier 3 of Piraeus Container Terminals in Greece from this month for the next 35 years following an agreement with port authorities at Greece's largest port.
Said Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis: "Cosco's participation in the operation of Piraeus Port is important for both economies. Piraeus Port can become an important hub for Chinese goods on the way to the EU markets and to the broader region of south eastern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean,".
Xinhua also reported that the deal will help Greece earn EUR4.3 billion (US$6.3 billion) over the next 35 years and provide employment for 1,000 people, she said.
Cosco's chief representative in Greece remarked, "the two sides will work together to build modern container terminals and provide reliable, flexible and high efficient services for shipping companies."
Piraeus had a handling capacity of 1.37 million TEU in 2007 according to the report.
|
