Denmark-based A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S is going to take part in the bidding process regarding two of Greece’s biggest ports – Thessaloniki and Piraeus – after the Greek Prime Minister Alex Tsipras put them up for a potential sale in today’s bailout proposal plan, as reported by Bloomberg.
The Syriza government was able to take office back in January to an extent of its promise for ending austerity measures and stopping a list of privatizations, which includes the sale of the government-owned ports.
The previous government that was led by Antonis Samaras had opted in to shortlist 5 companies, among which was Cosco, for a 67% stake regarding the Piraeus port, but the newly elected left-orientated government led by Tsipras scrapped the sale.
Given the increasing level of pressure applied by the EU and the International Monetary Fund, however, Tsipras’ government accepted to comply with the majority of the creditors’ demands, today, according to reports. A large number of the said demands were previously rejected in the recent referendum regarding a 53.50-billion bailout plan.
The two ports’ respective binding bid dates are to be announced by the end of October, this year, according to the proposal.
If Maersk is to be selected, it is going to operate the ports of Thessaloniki and Piraeus via its wholly-owned APM Terminals container terminal operator.