In his opening address, Oliver Kumrić, Assistant Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure emphasized the importance of the project for future development of the City of Sisak and the Sisak-Moslavina County, as well as of the wider Zagreb region. He stressed that the new Sisak port will be a logistical centre for local and regional industry and trade and will provide a powerful employment incentive.
“It is a brand new port infrastructure project, construction of which is planned on the Sava river in the wider Sisak area. Having regard of environment-friendliness of inland waterway projects and of their importance for economic development and for rehabilitation of the Sava inland waterway, with wider implications for Danube waterway, there is a need for intensified promotion of such projects as part of general traffic infrastructure development efforts in the Republic of Croatia. This project, along with projects to be implemented in Vukovar, Osijek and Slavonski Brod, demonstrates the importance of inland waterways development as one of strategic activities in the Republic of Croatia. It will provide an incentive for further development of port infrastructure and for economic development of Croatia in general, which is also strongly reliant on structural instruments which will be made available to Croatia following accession to the EU,” emphasized Assistant Minister Kumrić.
In addition, he informed about extensive activities taken by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure to ensure optimum utilization of financing from structural instruments and the Ministry’s focus on preparation of strategic documents and plans, development of projects, as well as training and strengthening of administrative capacities.
Robert Szucs from European Commission Directorate-General for Regional Policy addressed the participant emphasizing importance of this project.
Manfred Seith, the IC Consulenten project manager, presented the New Sisak Port Master Plan Technical Assistance Project, giving a review of project objectives, relevant studies, the purpose of the new port, the project approach in terms of traffic analysis, estimation of costs, final beneficiary and other aspects. He concluded that the new port will accelerate traffic and economic growth and stressed the importance of a developed transport system for sustainable economic development.
The formal opening was attended by the representatives of the Delegation of the European Union in the Republic of Croatia, the representatives of the Central Finance and Contracting Agency, the representatives of the Sisak Port Authority, the representatives of the local community, the Sisak municipality and the Sisak-Moslavina County, consultants involved in the project and other esteemed participants.
