The formal agreement for the development of the Aegean Gateway Terminal project at Turkey’s Port of Izmir, signed on February 22nd, will be a reaffirmed in a brief ceremony attended by Prime Minister Erdo?an and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, as well as the CEO of SOCAR Turkey Enerji A.S., Kenan Yavuz, Director of Business Development and Investments for SOCAR Turkey, Aykut Tanir and Petlim Project Director, Dogan Cirakoglu.
Petkim, a subsidiary of SOCAR Turkey Enerji A.S., the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, is the owner of the port, and through its port subsidiary, Petlim, is APM Terminals’ direct partner in the 1.5 million TEU annual capacity deep-water terminal project, scheduled to open in 2015.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Erdo?an, Turkey is creating new opportunities as a high-growth market at a key geographic crossroads for global trade” noted Mr. Fejfer, adding “and through our new partnership with Petkim, we will be able to bring our expertise in port development and operations to be a part of this exciting new period of transformation and growth for the people of Turkey”.
The Aegean Gateway Terminal will be constructed within the Petkim petrochemical complex in Nemrut Bay, near the Port of Izmir on the Aegean Sea. Izmir is the second largest city and industrial center in Turkey.
Highlights of future port:
· Capacity: Will be the largest integrated port in the Aegean Region with 1.5 million TEU capacity.
· Jobs generated: Approximately 500 people employed during construction phase and 260 persons employed during operations.
· Time and cost savings: When completed, Petkim Container Port will be the only port within the Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean Regions where 11,000 TEU container vessels can berth easily, enabling customers to achieve faster transits and lower costs compared to ports in Piraeus and Alexandria.
· Logistics center: Ideally-located, the site will serve Alia?a and The Bay of Nemrut as an important logistics center.