President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has opened the first start-up complex of the grain terminal of Cargill and MV Cargo in Yuzhny seaport (Odesa region).

"This terminal is not only the largest investment project of the country for the last two years, it is also an example of public-private partnership. The state, in the person of the Ministry of Infrastructure, undertook to conduct dredging without which no vessel would enter here," Andriy Stavnitser, the co-owner and director general of TIS port, the co-owner of the Cargill terminal, the partner of SD Capital investment company, said.

He also noted that the project will be fully operational in autumn this year.

Poroshenko personally accepted the first wagon with grain at the solemn launch of the first stage of the terminal.

"I am pleased that today I can take part in the opening of a very important stage of this project, in which your company, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Finance Corporation, and the state take part," the president said.

According to him, the project "will greatly increase the competitiveness of the Ukrainian agrarian sector and will make investments in Ukraine, in any sphere, in port infrastructure, in mechanical engineering, in shipbuilding even more attractive."

Poroshenko said he considers the development of the port infrastructure of Ukraine the issue of national security.