Turkey's transport minister declared that nearly TRY450 million (US$285 million) will be invested in Izmir Port from 2011 through to 2015. Izmir Alsancak Port's passenger pier capacity will be developed to host five or six cruise ships at one time following studies this year aiming to bring 30,000 square-metres of additional ground space to the port.
"The total amount of the investments made this year is 34 million lira (US$22 million). We also have long- and mid-term plans. The second phase involves the construction of a new container terminal, which is an investment of around 200 million lira (US$127 million). These investments will be implemented between 2011 and 2015," he told Dogan News Agency.
It is expected that Izmir's port capacity will increase to 900TEU containers putting it up among the top five European harbours by capacity.
