Ana Paula Vitorino, who was speaking in parliament about next year’s budget, stressed that this activity is important for the national economy, not just in terms of exports, but also to get goods off the roads and onto ships.
The minister also said that private investment intentions in the sea sector were worth more than €2 billion and that she had received “expressions of interest” for the new Lisbon terminal and the ports of Sines and Leixões.
The sea ministry is going to get an 11.7 percent increase in next year’s budget with total spending of €89.3 million.