Giurgiulesti State Port Is Another Fraud of the Government

Given the public response to the plans to sell the Giurgiulesti International Free Port to Romania, the government was quick to take measures to eliminate the crisis by stating that, at least, the state port located there will remain state-owned. Now it turns out that this is far from the case.   

Semyon ALBU, RTA: While top officials are dealing with undoubtedly vital matters, such as shooting cheap PR videos or returning Crimea to Ukraine, a plot to rid the state of another strategic asset is being gradually prepared. Just a couple of weeks ago, I posted my remarks on how Moldova is losing its sea gate forever. The current authorities are burying the great diplomatic success of their long-time predecessors, who managed to get a piece of the coastline on the Danube and access to the Black Sea from Ukraine without giving up our land in exchange. The dealings of today’s regime, however, lead to the opposite results, even if initially it looks as if the government has “dominated”. The international free port of Giurgiulesti, which has been transiting record volumes of cargo since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and, obviously, bringing good profits, will soon fall into the hands of other countries – most likely Romania, although there are other contenders, for example, billionaire brothers from Bulgaria. In fact, it doesn’t matter whether the harbor will become an appendage of the Romanian port in Constanta or the Bulgarian one in Burgas – the main thing is that the money from it will go to foreign, not Moldovan, pockets. Meanwhile, the authorities let things take their course, doing absolutely nothing. In fact, it is clear that the port in Giurgiulesti is not the Chisinau airport, and no one will simply return it to state ownership in an authoritarian way – the partners will give them a really hard time. Especially since the current owner is the EBRD, and the potential owner is Bucharest, which consistently takes over the national strategic assets, like gas transport system, power grids, etc. Actually, the Romanians are in a hurry right now to close the deal, anticipating solid profits amid the increased maritime transportations in the Black Sea and especially in the light of Ukraine’s future reconstruction. You don’t have to be wise as Solomon to understand this, therefore it is not surprising that the news about the sale of the port stirred up the general public. Famous expert Veaceslav Ionita compared the whole situation to the theft of a billion, saying that after years of negotiations, construction and investments, Moldova is left without the port and without money. In addition, the court may force us to pay compensation to the first investor and owner, who believes that the facility was simply “snatched” from him at the time. And this is at least $52 million. The government took quick steps to quell the passions by stating through the government spokesman, Daniel Voda, that allegedly only the international free port is changing ownership, but there is also a state port which is definitely not for sale. Before that, Andrei ‘Bender’ Spinu was colorfully describing the bright future of the New Giurgiulesti port, from which hundreds of thousands of tons of grain would be transported, where granaries, new berths and unloading stations and much more would appear. He showed nice pictures, and estimated the project at more than 30 million dollars. Well, if this is the case, no need to worry. We have lost the big port, but we still have partial sovereign access to the sea, and so some hope remains. Yet, the reality is different. The other day Renato Usatii presented his documented mini investigation, alleging as much as the raider attack on the state enterprise Portul Fluvial Ungheni, which manages the state port in Giurgiulesti. In brief, the government wants to launch the concession and in the process to concoct various schemes that will eventually make us pay more than a million dollars for the loss of the asset. Looks like the style of the ruling party pundits who have lined their pockets. I won’t make allegations, but Usatii is pointing directly at Spinu. The fuss that started around Portul Fluvial Ungheni Ltd might seem logical. Yes, the state sport owned by it cannot be compared to the EBRD-owned “counterpart”. On the other hand, the recently depressed enterprise is now clearly going uphill. In less than five years, the revenue has grown tenfold, losses have turned into millions of dollars in profits, and the salaries of employees have increased significantly, allowing to stabilize the personnel situation. In other words, the current situation is quite positive, and the prospects are rather promising. Therefore, it’s not surprising to see the same hands that have been mercilessly robbing “Moldovan pie” during the whole period of “good times” reaching for this profitable asset. And as usual they do it in the most brazen and unprincipled manner, enjoying the top political cover. In my previous article I predicted that the state sport in Giurgiulesti will almost inevitably be privatized under one guise or another and will be taken over by a private, most likely foreign “investor”. And, as it turned out, I was absolutely right. Now the only question is whether publicity will help derail the criminal plans of some officials and businessmen. Personally I think it won’t. The process may only get slower – as a rule, our authorities do not give up their plans to snatch another tidbit and give it abroad for nothing but with a large personal margin.