The world’s third largest port operator, Dubai Ports World (DPW), recently revealed plans to add the Mediterranean to its growing portfolio and expand in the greater Black Sea region and invest in ports in Greece.
Company officials at DP World reportedly met with officials in Greece last week to express their interest in such a move and discuss potential opportunities to enter the Greek market. A DP World spokesman met with the Greek Minister of Merchant Marine Manolis Kefaloyiannis for talks, according to Khaleej Times.
The outcome of the talks have yet to be released by company officials, though a spokeswoman for the company stated that further details of the meeting would be revealed shortly.
DP World executives visited ports at Piraeus, Thessaloniki and the Tympaki area of Crete on a visit to the country last Spring to review options for the possible development of a new container transshipment hub.
Last week, DP World was named in a marine briefing paper as one of the three overseas groups to have shown interest in investing in the two main Greek ports.
So far, the Piraeus and Thessaloniki port corporations being listed on the Greek stock market, while Greek authorities have promised further privatization in the future.
Development of the country’s were the focus of discussion last week during a meeting between Karamanlis and Kefaloyiannis, after which the latter reportedly said: "Major investment in Greece is starting from Greek ports" .
