A total of 30 investors have been shortlisted for the privatisation of the three primary services areas of Limassol port.
The preselection of investors who submitted an expression of interest began on August 10.
Initially, 33 bids were received in the first stage, and the authorities had preselected 12 companies or consortiums interested in the container terminal, 10 for sea services, and 13 for the general cargo terminal.
Some companies had submitted bids for more than one service.
Transport Ministry Director General and Cyprus Ports Authority Chairman Alecos Michaelides said that the aim is to complete the process by March 2016, after which the successful bidders will enter a transitional phase with existing staff and contactors.
The next round of consultations is expected to begin in 15 days when the documents that will be given to investors will be finalised and the potential investors’ final bids should be presented by December.
Based on the government’s plan for the privatisation of the port of Limassol, the CPA will remaintain as a public organisation, and will be the landlord with a regulatory role.
As regards the old Limassol port, Michaelides said leasing contracts were expected to be signed this month, with parties interested in using its buildings.
He said the interest was mainly for opening restaurants and cafes, which would liven up the area.
The state had included 40 venues in the competition but it only received bids for 18. Eventually, 16 bids were awarded.
Michaelides expects that the rest would also be taken in the near future.
The restaurants and cafeterias will attract the public and people interested in renting office space or shops, he said.
However, the government continues to face stiff resistance from the 31 licensed porter companies who are expected to receive a compensation of EUR 27 mln – 20 mln of which has already been disbursed – and an additional 1 mln to compensate their workers.
Trade unions staged a strike, costing the economy millions in unprocessed trade, as they insist on being paid upfront, prior to any deal with private partners.
