Thessaloniki Port Authority S A : Press Release 15.05.2018 - Two-day visit of Terminal Link SAS Management Team in ThPA SA premises

Meeting withMinister of Maritime Affairsand representatives of Local/Regional Authorities and of Business Community

Thessaloniki, May 15 2018

Terminal Link SAS's strategic decision to transform the Port of Thessaloniki into the main gateway port of Southeastern Europe strongly highlights the visit and meeting of the Company's Board of Directors in Thessaloniki, to be held tomorrow, May 16^th 2018.

Terminal Link SAS, a global port operator, a company that combines the participation of French container shipping giant CMA CGM with the Chinese Global Operator CMPorts and a partner of the tripartite Consortium controlling 67% of ThPA SA, demonstrates its great interest for the Port of Thessaloniki, with its two-day visit of a 10-member delegation of its top executives, in Thessaloniki, today May 15^th and tomorrow May 16^th, 2018.

In the context of the visit, the representatives of Terminal Link SAS met today, May 15^th, in ThPA SA premises, with members of the Government, representatives of the business community of Northern Greece as well as with the Local/Regional Authorities (Region and Municipality).

The Terminal Link SAS delegation, led by the President of Terminal Link SAS, Mr. Farid Τ. Salem, consists of the CEO of Terminal Link SAS and Deputy Chairman of the BoD of ThPA SA, Mr. Boris Wenzel; the Vice President of Terminal Link SAS, Mr. Laurent Martens and the Senior Vice President of CMA CGM, Mr. Lars Kastrup. Three senior executives of China Merchants Port Holding Company Ltd (CM Ports) Mr. Jingtao Bai; Mr. Kong Yim; and Mr. Jianhui Li also participate in the delegation.

The meeting, co-ordinated by the Chairman of the BoD and CEO of ThPA SA, Mr. Sotirios Theofanis, was attended by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Panagiotis Kouroumplis; the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Mr. Yiannis Boutaris; the Secretary General for Ports of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr. Christos Lambridis; the Vice-Governor of the Region of Central Macedonia-Metropolitan Area of Thessaloniki, Voula Patoulidou; the Executive Chairman of Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF), Mr. Aris Xenofos, and representatives of Local/Regional and Diplomatic Authorities and entities.

The President of Terminal Link SAS, Mr. Farid T. Salem, pointed out: 'Our aim is to develop the Port of Thessaloniki to a major crossroad in the Aegean and Adriatic region and link Thessaloniki to the Balkan hinterland.' Mr. Salem thanked the local authorities and the business community representatives for their presence and underlined the commitment of the Consortium for the continuous cooperation with the City and Business Entities to ensure the success of the project'.

Mr. Salem stressed that in order for the project to be successful, the Government should fulfill tasks associated with the completion of road and rail connections of the Port to the National and Trans-European Networks; the operation of the Customs services on a 24-hour basis; and the more effective operation of the pilot service.

The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Panagiotis Kouroumplis, underlined that the Ministry will follow up on these issues.
'The Port of Thessaloniki is 'thirsty' for growth and seeks to win back the lost time which caused it to lag behind other ports and to put forward plans leading the ground in relation to ports that compete with it,' said Mr. Kouroumplis.

The Mayor of Thessaloniki, Mr. Yannis Boutaris, expressed his deep satisfaction since, as he stressed, 'this investment, although it has gone through many difficulties, is a reality and a hope for the future'.

It is noted that 51% of Terminal Link SAS' s share capital is controlled by French CMA CGM and 49% by China Merchants Port Holdings Company Ltd (CMPorts), one of the largest Global Port Operators, whose portfolios include 32 ports in 17 countries on five continents.

The cooperation of CMA CGM and CMPorts, as expressed through Terminal Link SAS, is of particular importance in the new era of international trade development, in the context of the profound project for the New Silk Road, maritime and overland, the well-known project 'Belt and Road Initiative'.

Following today' s meeting, there was a tour at the Port premises for the senior members of the Consortium.