OREANDA-NEWS. June 16, 2011. Moldova's access to the Danube river and Black Sea is to be extended by the creation of a naval infrastructure on the Prut river, Prime Minister Vlad Filat said at a today's cabinet meeting.

To this end, the prime minister asked to work out projects and attract European funds. Filat made these statements while hearing a report on the activity of the southern "Giurgiulesti" International Port for the first quarter of 2011.

Deputy Prime Minister, Economics Minister Valeriu Lazar has said that, because of the small area of the "Giurgiulesti" port, the latter has limited possibilities of development. Lazar demanded support from state bodies to include another 65 hectares in the port, which are to be used to set up a logistic industrial park.

Lazar said that, since the "Giurgiulesti" port s creation, the overall investments in it have amounted to 46.9 million dollars, of which 350,000 dollars was invested in the first quarter of 2011. The revenues for the port services stood at 5.6 million lei, - up by 24 per cent against the same period of 2010.

Presently, 29 residents work at this port, with two new residents recorded in 2011. As many as 282 employees act at this port, by 68 more than last year.