Piraeus 08.08.2013
Press Release
10 year anniversary of the introduction of the Piraeus Port Authority SA to the Athens Stock Exchange.
An event to mark the anniversary of 10 years since the introduction of PPA into the ASE was held today, August 8th 2013, at the Athens Stock Exchange.
The President and CEO of the company, Mr. George Anomeritis, declared the start of trading by hitting the traditional “bell”.
The Chairman of the Athens Stock Exchange, Mr. Socrates Lazaridis, in a short speech during the event for today's anniversary said among other things: “I am happy to celebrate today the 10th anniversary of the listing of shares of PPA in the Greek Capital market. The presence of the PPA management is a great honor for the trading community, due to the introduction of PPA being a successful privatization, and due to the company having a key role in the development of Greek economy in the transport sector and international partnerships that leverage the geopolitical position of the country and the tourism sector.”
Mr. George Anomeritis said in response to today's event: “Piraeus Port Authority SA is a major port in sizes: With quays expanding 18.000m, serving annually 40.000 arrivals/departures of ships, 19.000.000 passengers, 2.000.000 cruise passengers, 650.000 containers, 460.000 cars-cargo and 4.000.000 vehicles through coastal shipping. With continued profitability for the fourth consecutive year despite the economic crisis, modernizing facilities and infrastructures, the PPA is constantly updating the position of the port industry and introducing many activities as the master port of the Mediterranean Gate of Tourism and Culture to the capital, Piraeus and Greece.
PPA , which was founded by Eleftherios Venizelos in 1930, was transformed into a Limited Company in 1999 and in 2003 entered the ASE, offering investors 25% of its shares. Following the course of the European port system it proceeded to privatization through concessions, the most significant of which was concluded in 2009 with the contract with PCT SA for Pier II Container Terminal. The PPA carries out an investment project of €600 million. Already for one of them, the new harbor cruise for new generation vessels, the European Union decided to finance with a subsidy of 95%. Moreover the railway linking the commercial port with the container terminals and car-terminal to the national railway network has been completed, while at the passenger harbor, works of metro and Cultural Coast have begun, with museums, theme parks and open spaces of 180.000m2. The port of Piraeus, prepares to celebrate in 2021, as the main gate of Marine and Tourism of the country, the 2,500 years since the Battle of Salamis and the establishment of the Democracy, with projects and profits, contributing to the dynamic growth of the country.”
