Commercial port-pier in the village of Famagusta

The creation of a port-pier is promoted by the Tourist, Commercial and Industrial Company of Famagusta. The proposal was presented at a recent meeting with MPs, mayors, community leaders and local officials of the province of Famagusta.

The proposal is based on the promotion of development projects in the province and the service of the needs of the province of Famagusta for imports and exports, taking into account the impossibility of serving the port of Larnaca for commercial purposes.

The proposal concerns the creation of a small commercial port - pier, without any container storage areas and an area has been selected near the fishing shelter of the community of Xylofagos. The area falls within the borders of the British Bases, with the rapporteurs appearing optimistic that the territorial status of the region will not stand in the way of any development, taking into account the recent developments in the modification of the status of the British Bases.

In his statements, the representative of the company, Savvas Kosis, pointed out that the agreement of the governments of Cyprus - Britain in January 2014, which provides the possibility of economic development within the Bases, puts aside any problems that may have arisen due to the status of the region.

The vice president of the company, Avraam Pittakis, stated that the goal is to serve businessmen and producers in the province of Famagusta - and some in the province of Nicosia - without high costs and to offer new jobs. Mr. Pittakis linked the company's proposal with the government policy of managing the commercial ports of Cyprus, emphasizing that an alternative option is needed for those who want to import and export products.

He also reminded that the management agreements of the port of Larnaca contain the element of the ceiling of 900 thousand tons in relation to the turnover and wondered what will happen to the products of the province of Famagusta if this amount is covered.

"The ceiling, as it has been introduced, restricts entrepreneurship, and so we, aim at a future stage, to build a space that will serve the ships, as is the case in similar areas in island Greece," said Mr. Pittakis.

Moreover, according to the vice president of the trade department of TEVEA, the space where the company proposes the construction of a pier can easily serve the surrounding industrial and agricultural units, so as to reduce the cost of transporting goods. He estimated that the cost of transportation to the Xylofagou pier will be limited by 50% in relation to what one pays to transport one's goods to and from the port of Limassol.

Mole without containers

According to the company's proposal, the port of Larnaca has comparative disadvantages, as it is surrounded by a residential area, without easy access, at a distance from the highway. The advantages of the proposed area near the fishing shelter Xylofagos, are considered the long distance from the residential area and the quick access to commercial and industrial units.

The port - pier will not have storage space for containers. The large ships that will be moored, will load and unload goods using a belt, then depart for their destination. The company argues that the project should be created with state support, without excluding the creation of a company in which the state and private investors - industrialists in the region participate, in proportion to the shares they will have. A viability study is expected to demonstrate whether such a project can be implemented. However, the leaders of the idea estimate that based on the volume of exports of the Famagusta region, there is no question of sustainability.

The local authorities are positive

The proposal has been presented both to the deputies of the province of Famagusta and to the community leaders and mayors. According to Mr. Pittakis, they responded positively during the presentation. He added that the government should be convinced of the need to carry out the necessary studies.

Source: SotiraNews / Dawn