Turkish Company: We Were Ready to Invest Twice as Much in Giurgiulesti Port as the Romanians

A representative of the Turkish company YILDIRIM Group, which participated in the tender for the purchase of the International Free Port of Giurgiulesti, criticized the decision of the authorities and the EBRD, stating that it contradicts the bank’s own recommendations. Natalia Madjar, representing YILDIRIM Group in Moldova, posted a message on social media expressing her disappointment with the results of the tender. The winner of the tender was the Romanian state-owned company “Constanta Sea Ports Administration” (JSC Constanta), writes mybusiness.md. “The EBRD recommended us as a strategic, reliable investor. But the final decision rested with the state. And it was not in our favor,” Madjar noted. According to her, YILDIRIM Group’s price offer was higher than that of the winner, and the investment envisaged in the project was €50 million, which is more than double the Romanian side’s offer (€24 million). “We came not only with money, but also with a clear development strategy. Our competitors offered only cosmetic upgrades to infrastructure that had previously been renovated at the bank’s expense,” she added. Madjar also drew attention to the timing of the decision. “On Friday evening, 11 July, in the final hours before the outgoing government left office, the final decision was announced. Late. Quietly. At the last minute. Think about it: the final decision on the last evening. Coincidence? Or symbolic? Let everyone answer that for themselves,” wrote the company representative. She questioned the ability of JSC Constanta to effectively manage the port, noting that the company is not directly involved in port management, but only leases terminals. “If the company is unable to effectively manage its own infrastructure, how does it intend to manage the port of Giurgiulesti with its key geostrategic location and challenges?” asked Natalia Madjar.