The company GLIP Košice, a.s., whose shareholders are the Košice Self-Governing Region (60%) and Interport Partners Group (40%), approved changes to the company's governing bodies and both shareholders agreed on a new strategic cooperation at its general assembly. At this meeting, attended by Košice Regional Governor Rastislav Trnka and all shareholders, Petr Tankó (major shareholder of the Cream group of companies) was elected as a member of the Supervisory Board of Glip Košice, a.s., while Ing. Martin Jarolím, MBA, was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Ing. Štefan Korán became a member of the Board.

“I’m pleased that all shareholders agreed on a new strategic cooperation at this general meeting. It concerns the development of the area designated for the future Glip Košice strategic zone, located in immediate proximity to the Interport Košice terminal and the adjacent U.S. Steel Košice site. Glip Košice, a.s. faces a major challenge—to ensure the logistics and industrial park, covering an area of up to 630 hectares, is listed in the catalogue of strategic territories at the level of the Slovak Government. Achieving this strategic goal could bring our region the potential for up to 10,000 new jobs, while the transshipment of goods is expected to reach a maximum capacity of 80,000 containers per year,” said KSK Chairman Rastislav Trnka.

If this process is successful, Glip Košice, a.s. will first proceed with the acquisition of the designated land for the future industrial, scientific, and research zone. The plan assumes that a strategic partner from the fields of advanced manufacturing, research, development, and logistics will then build the complete infrastructure, creating a zone that meets all parameters of a supra-regional area. Thanks to its advantageous location and perfect connectivity to air, highway, and both Ukrainian and European gauge rail transport, this will create a major stimulus for the further growth of the Košice Region's economic potential.

Interport Partners Group, a.s., as the minority shareholder in Glip Košice, a.s., declared it has secured funding of €55 million, which will be invested in the Interport Košice terminal over the next three years—essentially marking a successful start to the investment process in the aforementioned area. The total projected investment upon completion is estimated at up to €3.5 billion. These investments are expected to be made over the next 10 to 15 years. The development of the Glip Košice area is expected to involve, in addition to the Košice Self-Governing Region and Interport Partners Group, a.s., several other prominent development and investment companies. The economic impact on Eastern Slovakia, with links to the markets of Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic, and the entire European Union, would be not only substantial but also long-lasting. Since the strategic park will have a key impact on the economic growth and competitiveness of the entire region, it is in the interest of the KSK to make every effort to ensure the project can be implemented as soon as possible.