Minister Omelian says the Arab investors regard Odessa not just as a port but as a convenient place for a marina.
Companies from United Arab Emirates are interested in realisation of investment projects in Odessa Port, one of which being concerned with creation of social space and facilities for cruise liners.
This was announced by Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Volodymyr Omelian at the press conference ‘Priority Directions of Infrastructure Ministry Activities in 2019’, according to BlackSeaNews.
“The year 2019 is going to bring many victories for Ukraine in the maritime sector. Lately I have negotiated with large Arab companies, who are interested in investing in Ukraine. They are viewing the sea port in Odessa not just as a port but as a comfortable place for a so called marina, where it would be possible to establish both some perfect social space and all the conveniences for cruise liners, and a splendid promenade and business zone”, noted head of the ministry.
Let’s remind that earlier Minister has already declared that he would like to make Odessa Port more attractive for tourists. “My innermost dream as of a minister of infrastructure is that there were a magnificent marina instead of the dirty industrial port in order to please both Odessa people, Ukrainians and foreigners with cruising events for the ships from all Europe, fro the Mediterranean”, he said last summer.
As it came known in October 2018, Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports (MedСruise, HQ in Barcelona, Spain) intends to realise a round-trip cruise route in the Black Sea. It is suggested that the liners should call ports of Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, and the Ukrainian port Odessa.
https://cfts.org.ua/news/2019/02/03/investory_iz_oae_khotyat_sozdat_v_odesskom_portu_infrastrukturu_dlya_kruiznykh_laynerov_omelyan_51503