China Merchants Port Holdings Co., Ltd. (CMPort), its subsidiary China Merchants Holdings (International) Information Technology Co., Ltd. (CMHIT) and Thessaloniki Port Authority SA (ThPA) signed two agreements on 10 July on a cloud signing ceremony.
The three parties inked two deals on a strategic co-operation and port information system. “CM Chip” developed by CMHIT is the core of a Smart Information Service Platform, according to an announcement and ThPA will be the first to install the CTOS system in the European market, as a demonstration and promotion window for the TOS project and related IT solutions to enter the European market.
Wang Pei, general manager of CMHIT, believes that the CTOS project in Thessaloniki will help CMHIT to enter the information technology market for the European ports and logistics industry.
“ThPA is implementing an extended investment plan and the curial point of these investments is the expansion of the container terminal, allowing it to serve main liner container services and accommodate ultra large container vessels of 24,000TEU capacity,” Franco Nicola Cupolo, ThPA managing director and chief executive officer said.
CMPort will take advantage of its influence and port network to enhance the reputation of Thessaloniki Port Authority and promote the port of Thessaloniki to become an important port for goods entering and leaving Europe, according to a statement.
“In light of the global port network of CMPort, ‘CM Ship’ brings to industry stakeholders a mature ecology of systems. We believe that this successful co-operation is not limited to a system marching overseas in Europe, but also a promotion of the two parties in the port areas of Europe and Asia, which can be recognised another success and practice of the initiative of ‘Belt and Road’,” Bai Jingtao, CMPort managing director commented.
Thanos Liagkos, executive chairman of board of directors, ThPA, emphasised in his speech, “The signing of co-operation agreement with CMPort will benefit the Greek economy and the supply chain in southeastern Europe.”