Subseries PEE 02 - Subseries Minutes of the Thessaloniki Port Fund Authority Executive Committee

Till 1930, the stevedoring of imports and exports is carried out by the French Company of Exploitation of the Port of Thessaloniki, whose privileges were to come to an end on July 1st, 1944. However, the demands of an international port, as it evolved after the foundation of the Serbian Free Zone and the Greek Free Zone of Thessaloniki, necessitated an excellent level of technical and storage facilities, as well as modern means of stevedoring and transportation. Furthermore, it was considered necessary to construct a new quay for the sailing boats, so that there would be no more stevedoring on the quay of Nikis boulevard. Nevertheless, the French Company were not willing to undertake any new major technical projects without a renewal of the contract for many years to come.
The Free Zone of Thessaloniki, as well as the Greek government ruled out the possibility, so long as already since 1925 the government and the port Organization were oriented towards the removal of the French Company. As mentioned by the government MP, Alexandros Verdelis, during a discussion on the subject in the Parliament, quote: “in Thessaloniki one French Company was obstructing the port expansion, however, fortunately, the issue was resolved in favor of the Port of Thessaloniki.” (Makedonia newspaper, 17/1/1930). The government’s considerations were presented by the Government Spokesman in the Senate, Covil Engineer and Professor at the National Metsovion Polytechnic School, Nikos Kitsikis, quote: “The Draft Law under discussion is going to dismiss an anomaly inherited from Turkey to Greece. Namely, the issue of the Thessaloniki exemption since Makedonia was liberated, therefore the application of the term regarding the redemption of privileges had been requested.” According to the Senator, the gross income of the company would be distributed for the amortization of bonds and the remaining amount would be distributed at a rate of 40% in favor of the Company and 60% in favor of the State. He also mentioned that the French Company fell into financial crisis due to the drachma devaluation and was in a poor financial situation. The whole case was processed by the Free Zone Committee, which is put in charge of the new Fund.
The Minister of Public Works, Vyron Karapanagiotis, stated at the Senate that essentially the Free Zone of Thessaloniki takes over the port, works in the port, while he explained why the choice was made for the privilege to be leased, not bought, since the Company was asking the amount of 10.000.000 drachmas annually, whereas there was a revenue of 4.500.000 drachmas annually. Finally, the lease of 8.000.000 drachmas annually was agreed-upon, provoking reactions by the political opposition, since the price was considered too high compared with the revenue (Makedonia newspaper, 23/1/1930). The Hellenization of the port was considered reinforced -which was an issue at a post-Ottoman city-, the problem of the poor financial condition of the French Company was resolved, whilst, theoretically, despite of the two existing entities there will be one administration.
In particular, the MP Mr. Verelis understated the importance of the government of the port to be carried out by a Committee (Makedonia newspaper, 17/1/1930). Indeed, the removal of the French Company from the port of Thessaloniki signifies the end of the last Ottoman institution of the city. Actually, the port is directly controlled by the Thessaloniki commercial elite, which take over its modernization campaigning for the new big idea, namely the economic development and expansion towards the Balkans and greater Asia. However, the turn of events in the following years will not allow the successful unfolding of these ambitious plans. The whole process took place and related decisions seem to have been made immediately, while the procedure of transferring the jurisdiction and control was completed in a few months. On 26/10/1929 the government signed directly with the French Company a draft agreement for the leasing of the exploitation rights. On 15/1/1930 a meeting took place at the Ministry of Transportation, the EZTH Chairman and Vice Chairman, the Deputy Head of the Thessaloniki Port Authority and various ministerial officials. On the next day, 16/1/1930, it was introduced for discussion into the Parliament and on 22/1/1930 into the Senate. On 25/1/1930 the foundation Presidential Decree was published and on 27/1/1930 the establishment of the public law entity under the name of the Port Fund of Thessaloniki.
The EZTH called the Committee of the new entity to form into a body, the whole procedure beginning with the proposal of the EZTH Committee Chairman Vassilis Georgakopoulos. Vassilis Dimitriou took over as Chairman of the new organization, the EZTH Vice Chairman till then. On 30/1/1930 the final agreement with the French Company was signed in the conference room of the Free Zone of Thessaloniki, while the new Presidential Decree was published on 5/2/1930. On 20/2/1930 the Committee of the Thessaloniki Port Fund took over the facilities, the services and the personnel of the customs port from the French Company, while 16 more employees were recruited. Newspaper Makedonia describes favorably the institutional framework of administration, both for the Port Fund, as well as for the Free Zone of Thessaloniki: