MYKOLAIV, MAY, 6th, 2010, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE – Mykolaiv Port is planning to develop cooperation with the Port of Ghent, located in the Flemish region, Belgium, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

The agency was informed about it today 6 May at the press-service of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration.

Mykolaiv Commercial Sea Port regards international integration as a prospective sector of economic reforms including intensification of trade cooperation with the partners form Belgium, the Flemish region in particular. This province is one of the most industrially developed in Belgium.

There is cooperation experience between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Flemish Republic within the framework of the current operative programme of cooperation of the Flemish Republic with East-European countries.

Since 2005 the budget of the Flemish Republic has been annually assigning EUR 450 thousand for implementation of mutual projects with Ukraine.

Taking to consideration the Mykolaiv Region’s international cooperation initiatives, Mykolaiv Commercial Sea Port demonstrates interest in cooperation with the Port of Ghent.

At present with the help of Ukrainian embassy in Belgium Mykolaiv port managed to start a dialogue with the administration of Ghent aiming at signing a Cooperation Memorandum.

As a draft project Mykolaiv is planning to suggest Belgian party take part in and promote a strategic and infrastructural nation-wide project aiming at increase of Ukrainian ports’ and port terminals’ competitiveness in the Mykolaiv Region – the project of a Marine Lighter Terminal in the Buh-Dnieper Basin which was included to the Port Development Prospective Programme (adopted by the Ministry of Transport 05.06.09 No561).

The strategic purpose of the project is to draw new investments and re-orientation of the existing cargo flows to the ports and terminals in the Mykolaiv Region at the expense of creating comfortable and safe conditions for operating PANAMAX vessels.

The creation of the mentioned complex is to significantly reduce time cost of the loading and discharge process on the roads thus raising economic attractiveness of the ports and terminals in Mykolaiv Region.