The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing a loan of EUR 35 million to finance the upgrading of the infrastructure of the Slovenian Adriatic Sea Port of Koper with the aim of increasing the port’s capacity and enabling larger throughputs to cater for the increased transport demands.
Mr Anton Rop, EIB Vice-President responsible for lending in Central Europe, including Slovenia, stated: “EIB funds will facilitate this environmentally friendly mode of transport in the context of the Trans-European Transport Network through further development of the Port of Koper, which is of high importance for the Slovenian economy, particularly the country’s exports and imports.”
The EIB loan will finance the extension of the container terminal and the purchase of new equipment including cranes to increase the capacity of the only Slovenian port. The Port of Koper is a priority sea port in the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN) and is connected to the TEN priority project No. 6, the railway axis Lyon – Trieste – Divača/Koper – Ljubljana – Budapest – Ukrainian border.
Luka Koper, Pristaniški in logistični sistem, d.d., will be the project promoter and the final beneficiary of the EIB loan. In accordance with Slovene law, the EIB loan has been approved by the Slovene government. What is more, the EIB investment in the Port of Koper will consequently help improve its competitive position.
Note to editors:
The mission of the EIB, the European Union’s bank, is to contribute to the integration, balanced development and economic and social cohesion of the EU Member States by financing sound investment.
Thanks to its Statute and shareholders, the 27 Member States, including Slovenia, the EIB has an AAA-rating and can therefore borrow funds on the capital markets on favourable terms, which it passes on via the loans that it grants to its clients and final beneficiaries. Since 1990, the EIB has signed loan contracts in Slovenia, including the current loan, amounting to some EUR 4.3 billion.