Transport and Communications Minister of Ukraine Kostiantyn Yefymenko has supported the privatization of state enterprise Yalta maritime merchant port, the ministry's press service has reported.
"I support the privatization of Yalta port, because it is not promising in cargo handling. At the same time, the port's tourism potential can be compared hardly to that of any other port. Today we have an investment program of Hr 2.2 billion, which envisages the creation of a yacht marine on the basis of Yalta port. I am confident that it will be a serious impetus to the development of the enterprise," the press service said, citing the minister.
According to a press release, investors from Europe and Russia are interested in buying the port.
The decision to privatize the port can be made only after the list of objects that cannot be privatized in 2011 is approved.
The list was sent to the governmental committee for consideration, then it will be submitted to the government no later than September 10, and later it will be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada.
According to Yefymenko, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov supports the idea of the port's privatization.
