RIJEKA PORT, ITALIAN TRANSPORT COMPANY SIGN CONTRACT

RIJEKA, May 31 (Hina) - Representatives of the Rijeka Port and the Italian company Medcentar Container Terminal from the Contship Group, Europe's biggest and one of the leading world companies for container and vehicle transport, signed a contract on cooperation in Rijeka on Wednesday. Under the contract, the Italian company will provide assistance in container and roll on-roll off transport via the Rijeka Port. Giuliano Alberghini, vice-president of the Medcentar Container Terminal management board, said his company's goal was to modernise the Rijeka port and make it one of the most important container transport hubs on the northern Adriatic. Rijeka Port director Miran Cofek said the world market was witnessing a battle for container transport and transhipment as one of the most profitable sectors in the shipping industry. Container and roll on-roll off transport via the Rijeka Port will depend on the revitalisation of the entire transport system in the area of Rijeka and the modernisation of all other forms of transport, particularly railway transport, he said. Croatian Vice Premier Slavko Linic said Rijeka was an important part of Croatia's transport, maritime and overall economic strategy. The Croatian government will continue stimulating the arrival of foreign strategic investors and partners, he said. (hina) rml