Greece on Friday unveiled a tender, inviting companies to upgrade and run commercial port facilities (OLTH) in the northern city Thessaloniki, in a bid to boost the country's role as a regional hub.
Greece, with two of the largest ports in the Mediterranean, has watched its role as an entry point for goods into Europe slip as outdated port facilities and strong unions have led cargo freighters to turn to other ports, some of them in Italy.
Greece's conservative government has also said it plans to sell stakes in facilities at the country's major port (OLP) of Piraeus, to boost investment and pay down public debt.
The winning bidder will have the right to operate, develop and expand the port's commercial dock for up to 35 years, OLTH said in a statement.
Greece's Merchant Marine Ministry said a similar tender for OLP is soon to be published with the investment in the ports to total about 650 million euros ($952.4 million).
Greek port workers, who have called a 24-hour strike on Jan. 30, have refused to work overtime and have gone on strike to oppose plans they say will affect their employment and lead to privatisation of the ports.
China's COSCO Pacific (COSCO) has shown interest in investing in Greek ports while analysts say companies such as Dubai Ports World, Hutchison, Maersk and Evergreen may also show interest.
OLP and OLTH have market values of 632 and 282 million euros, respectively, according to Reuters estimates. The state has a more than 70 percent stake in each. (Reporting by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Suzy Valentine)
Greece, with two of the largest ports in the Mediterranean, has watched its role as an entry point for goods into Europe slip as outdated port facilities and strong unions have led cargo freighters to turn to other ports, some of them in Italy.
Greece's conservative government has also said it plans to sell stakes in facilities at the country's major port (OLP) of Piraeus, to boost investment and pay down public debt.
The winning bidder will have the right to operate, develop and expand the port's commercial dock for up to 35 years, OLTH said in a statement.
Greece's Merchant Marine Ministry said a similar tender for OLP is soon to be published with the investment in the ports to total about 650 million euros ($952.4 million).
Greek port workers, who have called a 24-hour strike on Jan. 30, have refused to work overtime and have gone on strike to oppose plans they say will affect their employment and lead to privatisation of the ports.
China's COSCO Pacific (COSCO) has shown interest in investing in Greek ports while analysts say companies such as Dubai Ports World, Hutchison, Maersk and Evergreen may also show interest.
OLP and OLTH have market values of 632 and 282 million euros, respectively, according to Reuters estimates. The state has a more than 70 percent stake in each. (Reporting by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Suzy Valentine)