May the 24th, 2025 – The 200 million euro Rijeka Gateway is scheduled to open in September this year. The project is an enormous push forward for both Rijeka and Croatia as a whole.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the 200 million euro Rijeka Gateway project is a new container terminal in the Port of Rijeka. It represents a joint investment of Maersk and the ENNA group. In a later phase, an additional 180 million euros of investment will be realised.
“We’re very satisfied with the dynamics of the preparatory works at the Rijeka Gateway container terminal and expect the official opening at the beginning of September this year,” revealed Igor Šikanjić. The Regional sales manager at A.P. Moller – Maersk stated the above at the SCM Forum conference held recently at the Westin Hotel in Zagreb.
the 200 million euro rijeka gateway project – the largest investment thus far
The 200 million euro Rijeka Gateway project is otherwise the largest investment in the Croatian logistics sector in history. The sector is currently experiencing a significant boom with huge investments being realised in storage capacities and transport infrastructure.
The President of the Board of HŽ Infrastruktura (Infrastructure), Ivan Kršić, emphasised that around six billion euros are being invested in the renovation of the railway infrastructure over the coming decade. He added that the priority is the lowland double-track railway from Zagreb to Rijeka and the route leading from the Slovenian border to the far eastern swathes of Croatia.
“A lot of work is being carried out on all routes, but the pace of those works doesn’t depend solely on us. There are a number of environmental protection studies and other procedures that precede boots being on the ground. These procedures are often slow and complicated, they really should be accelerated. In addition, there is a lot of difficulty and we’re lacking professional staff, such as designers. That in itself also determines the speed of the works,” Kršić emphasised, adding that the process of investing in this type of infrastructure requires patience.
Igor Šikanjić emphasised that the Adriatic corridor has a lot of potential in the future and that there is a possibility for the development of a new terminal on the island of Krk. Such a move could triple the existing capacity of the container terminals in Rijeka in the future.
“We see a lot that can be done and improved, and the future is bright in the Croatian logistics sector,” said Šikanjić.
the future of the croatian logistics sector
In addition to investments in logistics and transport infrastructure, the focus of the meeting was on the challenges of consumer goods distribution, cybersecurity and sustainability in the supply chain.
The conference provided a glimpse into the future of Croatian logistics, as the introductory lecture was given by Walter Holzhammer, representative of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges for Austria and Hungary. Using the example of the second largest port in Europe, Holzhammer pointed out the potential and development guidelines that the Port of Rijeka is striving for in the medium term.
“In addition to the container terminal itself, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is home to around 1,400 companies and directly or indirectly creates 164,000 jobs, generates almost 21 billion euros of new value and contributes around 4.5 percent to Belgium’s GDP,” Holzhammer emphasised in his presentation.
Through this inspiring lecture, presentations and four panel discussions, the conference pointed out the importance of considering a broader European perspective and opening up cooperation opportunities that go beyond the borders of the local market.
“In such conditions, experts put emphasis on the fact that the key word for the future strategic development of Europe is not competition, but cooperation. For this very reason, we believe it’s important to open topics and encourage communication, and to act jointly towards the highest EU institutions in order to accelerate processes and create the prerequisites for new economic development.
We’re particularly pleased that this year we’ve established cooperation with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. That port’s experience can serve as a window into the future of the logistics sector in Croatia,” said Goran Pavlović, editor-in-chief of Supply Chain magazine and the SCM.hr portal. This is a specialised platform that monitors current events in the field of supply chain management.
