Cargo, Competition, Lithuania, Port, Transport

"The port is the regional leader, which is a real delight. I believe we should remain a leader. (...) It is our only port, which we must develop, if we want to be a country undergoing good and fast development. We have to find the happy medium, so that our ambitions and some personal obstacles are not in the way," Masiulis told journalists at the Klaipeda port on Tuesday.

He expressed conviction that the port will manage to agree with the city's administration on the development plans. In his words, no specific expansion plans have been made, however, the expansion must take place.

"Such infrastructure objects as ports cannot be idle. (…) I am in support of development of the port, we have not yet discussed the best way of doing this. (…) There must be movement at the port, we cannot wait for others to come ahead of us, we must be the leader," said Masiulis.

After handling more than 40 mln tons of cargo last year – the largest volume in its history – the port has worked out a general plan and a report of strategic assessment of consequences, which envisages expansion and building of an external port.