Portuguese concession process criticised

Carlos Figueiredo, development director Tertir, which owns container terminals in both Lisbon and Leixões, has criticised the Portuguese system of port concessions, which he believes needs urgent reform.

He is particularly critical of the legal system, which in his opinion “does not serve the economy”.

As for the recent series of strikes that have affected all major ports, he claims that the very future of the workers is at stake and that they need to except new conditions that are being introduced.

Speaking with local press, he also said that the amount of cargo handled by ports on the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of the Iberian peninsular needs to be rebalanced.