The privatization of the second biggest Greek port of Thessaloniki seems to have sparked interest in Russia, as the country’s President voiced intention to bid for the port.
The country is interested in forthcoming Greek tenders for “the purchase of assets of railway companies and the Thessaloniki port facilities,” Vladimir Putin said in an article published in Greek newspaper Kathimerini ahead of his visit to Greece today.
Based on the latest media reports, Greece plans to invite investors to submit binding bids for a majority stake in the port in Thessaloniki at the end of September.
The port is being privatized under the same terms as its counterpart Piraeus, the majority stake of which was transferred to China’s port operator Cosco Group (Hong Kong) Limited in April.
The sale of the 67 percent stake of the Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) and Thessaloniki Port Authority (THPA), which are being privatized within the country’s bailout plan, was launched in 2014.
However, the country’s maritime workers are dissatisfied with the privatization process and have launched a series of strikes to voice their opposition to the move. The latest 48-hour strikes have been announced by the Port of Piraeus Dockworkers’ Union starting yesterday.
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