Romania's Port of Constanța to take over Moldova's Giurgiulești Free Port

Romania's Port of Constanța will take over Giurgiulești International Free Port following the completion of the process initiated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to identify a strategic investor.

The announcement was made by Romania’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Ciprian Șerban, who noted that this “is a decision of major relevance for Romania and the entire Black Sea region,” CE Report quotes MOLDPRES.

Giurgiulești is the only maritime-river port of the Republic of Moldova and a key hub at the intersection of the Danube and the Black Sea. Ciprian Șerban emphasized that integrating it into a joint vision with Port Constanța strengthens the Danube–Black Sea logistics corridor and creates a stronger regional platform for trade, transit, and investment.

“In the current context, marked by geopolitical realignments and the need to diversify trade routes, Romania takes an active role in developing strategic infrastructure nearby. This takeover contributes to increasing operational capacity in the region, streamlining trade flows to and from Moldova, supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction through alternative safe routes, and further integrating Moldova into the European transport network (TEN-T),” said the Romanian Minister of Transport and Infrastructure.

According to the official, Port Constanța has demonstrated in recent years the capacity to manage record volumes and implement major investments in infrastructure, energy, and digitalization. “Extending this model to Giurgiulești means investment, modernization, and predictable development, fully respecting Moldovan law and sovereignty.”

“Romania is not pursuing just a transaction. It is consolidating a strategic corridor and strengthening its position as a logistics hub on the Black Sea. This is an infrastructure project with regional and European significance. We continue investments and development,” the minister concluded.

Port Giurgiulești is a strategically important logistics hub offering transshipment and storage services to importers and exporters, with access to a trimodal transport infrastructure.

The port is located on the maritime section of the Danube and accommodates both river and sea vessels with a draft of up to 7 meters and a capacity of up to 10,000 tons. As Moldova’s main port, it handles over 70% of the country’s waterborne foreign trade, supporting supply chains for various goods and contributing significantly to the Moldovan economy.

Two port entities operate in Giurgiulești: the Portul Internațional Liber Giurgiulești, owned by the EBRD, and the state port, which is government-owned.

Deputy Prime Minister Eugeniu Osmochescu, Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization, clarified that discussions regarding a change of ownership concern exclusively the Free International Port Giurgiulești, not the State Cargo and Passenger Port Giurgiulești, which remains state property and is not intended for privatization.

Last spring, the EBRD, owner of the Free International Port Giurgiulești, launched an international tender to identify potential investors who could continue the development of Moldova’s primary maritime and river port.

In mid-July 2025, the Council for Reviewing Investments of Importance for State Security approved the request of the Romanian National Company “Administrația Porturilor Maritime” SA Constanța to acquire the company “Danube Logistics,” operator of the Free International Port Giurgiulești, which is owned by the EBRD.

The Council examined the compliance of the proposed investment with regulations and the interests of state security, reviewing applications from 113 companies.