Hannover. The Lower Saxony Seaports Working Group (AG Seehäfen) was very concerned about September’s budget discussions on the financial planning for the state of Lower Saxony in Hanover. “For 2024, the state is attempting to stabilise the funds for the state’s own port infrastructure company, NPorts, at EUR 40 million. But this amount will be reduced by EUR 10 million from 2025,” says Michael de Reese, AG Seehäfen spokesman. “Just recently at the National Maritime Conference, Lower Saxony and the other German states along the coast demanded, in no uncertain terms, that the federal government increase its funding significantly for the port infrastructure – and for good reason. It’s very clear that Lower Saxony cannot cover these investments of national importance alone.” At the same time, slashing investment funds by a quarter in its own financial planning would not be the right signal to send to Berlin, de Reese added. That would compromise the upkeep of NPorts’ existing structure as well as its ability to operate.
Credits: Private
