The goal is to help Slavonia’s economy and attract new industries.
The Minister of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butković, the Director of the Central Finance and Contracting Agency, Tomislav Petrić, and Assistant Director of the Osijek Port Authority Nada Klepo signed an agreement on the construction of a bulk cargo terminal in Osijek, which will provide 117 million kuna to the Port Authority of Osijek.
The total value of the project is 145 million kuna, of which 90.4 percent will be financed by EU grants. It will include the construction of a new terminal, located outside the city centre of Osijek.
“In addition to this project, the Osijek Port Authority is working on a few more projects on the southern part, as well as on the construction of an intermodal infrastructure on the western part of the port, and preparations for the construction of the northern part of the port," said Minister Butković. He expressed his satisfaction with yet another project to be funded from EU funds.
“I am always happy to attend the signing of contracts for projects coming from Slavonia. Projects like this mean a lot for the revitalisation of Slavonian counties. This is a continuation of the Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem project, which will revive this whole area and stimulate growth and employment, given the importance and size of this region. I am sure it will significantly improve the economic situation in the whole country,” said Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds Gabrijela Žalac, who also attended the signing of the agreement.
The project includes the construction of a 240 metre long coastal structure with two mooring posts, a 300 metre long access road, a 610 metre long railway track, crane tracks and other port infrastructure. Its construction will have a positive impact on reducing traffic congestion in the centre of Osijek and preventing possible ecological pollution near the Osijek Clinical Hospital Centre.
This project will make it possible to increase the accessibility of Osijek-Baranja County and ensure integrated cargo transhipment at a single location, and will also raise the overall level of environmental protection during cargo shipment, increase ship safety at the port, improve port infrastructure accessibility through high quality traffic connections with the new port, and reduce operating costs due to the use of new equipment and technology.
Finally, by building the terminal, the town of Osijek will have the first inland port that will adopt European standards of operations, which will turn it into a strong logistical support for the economy of eastern Croatia.
