The Expansion Project of the Mersin Port (EMH2), which was implemented with an investment of $375 million, has broken the ground. The Transport and Infrastructure Minister Karaismailoğlu attended the ground-breaking ceremony.
The project to expand the total capacity of Mersin Port from 2.6 million TEU to 3.6 million TEUs has broken the ground. Two mega vessels will be able to come alongside simultaneously in Mersin Port once the project is finished. The Transport and Infrastructure Minister Karaismailoğlu attended the ground-breaking ceremony. Emphasizing that the Mersin International Port is one of the leading ports of Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean, Karaismailoğlu said, “Due to its geographic location, capacity, being adjacent to the free zone and being integrated into national and international land, air, rail and sea routes, our port is of great significance in our country. More than 1,2 billion dollars had been spent in the International Port of Mersin between 2007 and 2020. Our port, which plays a key role not only for our country but also in trade with Iraq, Syria and other nearby countries, is continually expanding and growing its capacity to respond to the needs and demands of the industry. As a trans-shipping port along the Asian-European route, the Mediterranean ports are rather more important for international maritime transport. The second phase of the Eastern Mediterranean Terminal that we are initiating is also an extremely important project in this context. We aim to complete the project with an investment budget of $375 million in 1.5 years. I would also like to hereby announce the good news that once our project is put into operation at the end of 2022, it will provide to directly 500 people and indirectly 5000 people with employment opportunity.”
Telling about the advantages of the Mersin International Port, Karaismailoğlu stated, “Some impertinent people deliberately mislead the public about our efforts to develop 81 provinces and Turkey. Our main and national struggle is to serve all corners of our country, to reinforce our holistic development, and strive hard by making a great effort to carry Turkey to a brighter future. On the other hand, we will continue to fight against the aspersions by those dark faces that have been cast on us. As they tell lies, we will refute those lies and continue to serve our country and provide our nation with employment and food.”
