Greece Debates Privatizing Its Two Largest Ports

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's new leftist government has sought to cancel key terms of Athens' bailout program from international lenders, including what it calls the "crime" of selling off strategic national assets.

channelnewsasia.com
File photo of Greece's Piraeus Port.
File photo of Greece's Piraeus Port.

Greece's government said on Wednesday it was sticking to plans to halt the sale of its two biggest ports, Piraeus and Thessaloniki, rebuffing reports it was having second thoughts, according to channelnewsasia.com.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's new leftist government has sought to cancel key terms of Athens' bailout program from international lenders, including what it calls the "crime" of selling off strategic national assets.

"We are not discussing any further sale or privatization of Piraeus Port or Thessaloniki port," government spokesman Gabriel Sakellaridis told Greek television.

China's Cosco manages two of Piraeus port's cargo piers and had been shortlisted along with another four suitors as potential buyers of a 67 percent stake in the port under last year's privatization scheme. Athens says it is not against the concession granted to Cosco but only opposes the port's sale.

A major Greek property development company said the new policy and recent statements from Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis, a vocal opponent of privatization who represents the more radical wing of the government, would hurt investment in the country.

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