Turkey plans to sell port management rights in Izmir

Turkey is in talks with Gulf countries to sell the rights to manage the port of Alsanjak in the city of Izmir, Bloomberg reports.

"Investment talks with countries in the Gulf region are underway and the port of Alsanjak is also within the scope of these discussions," the publication quoted Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu as saying.

The port's cargo turnover is 9 million tons per year. The container terminal in Alsanjak has a throughput capacity of 1.1 million TEU. The port also has facilities for handling bulk and Ro-Ro cargo.

According to Maritime Executive, the Turkish government tried to privatize it in 2007. However, the deal was stopped in court. Now the port of Alsanjak is managed by Turkish State Railways and owned by the Turkish Welfare Fund.

As Bloomberg notes, the negotiations are being conducted as part of the strategy of the Turkish authorities to attract foreign investment.