Rijeka was awarded the status of a Royal Free Port by proclamation of Emperor Charles VI in 1719. The decision had great importance for the development of the city and helped the small port at the time to increase its economic and transport impact.
Mayor Vojko Obersnel said that the celebrations would kick off on March 18 with a formal ceremony at the Maritime and History Museum. He said that it would be an opportunity to speak about the history, present and future of the port of Rijeka.
The director of the Rijeka Port Authority, Denis Vukorepa, said he believed Rijeka would once again become a renowned port. "We are finishing the EUR 200 million Rijeka Gateway project which includes the construction of port infrastructure and transport links with the interior, and the completion of a new container terminal is expected in May. We are in the process of looking for a concessionaire and interest is very good," he said.